Russia to Respond in Kind to US Sanctions Against Individuals, Businesses
TEHRAN (Defapress)- The Russian deputy foreign minister said on Thursday that Moscow plans to give a mirror response to US sanctions against individuals, businesses, the country's sanctions list will also be expanded.
"The answer is a loose concept. Of course, we thoroughly and carefully analyze what is being announced in Washington. But whatever they declare, our answer is the same, that all this is absolutely unreasonable. And there is no chance that they will achieve the goals they pursue" Ryabkov noted.
The United States is aware of Russia's readiness to begin substantive discussions in an interdepartmental format about the issue of alleged meddling in the US elections, Ryabkov added.
"We did not do anything that could give the United States grounds to make such accusations against us. They are unable to provide us with any evidence for such insinuations. We have not made any progress on the matter, even though the United States is aware of our readiness to launch substantive discussions on the matter in an interdepartmental format, if we see at least the slightest sign of them having a more reasonable, realistic approach, less politicized approach that is not tied to rejecting modern Russia as a factor in international affairs," Ryabkov stressed.
Russia's response to the US sanctions should increase the resilience of Russia’s economy, free it from dependence on the dollar, he emphasized.
"The response [to a new round of US sanctions] should be such an action that would increase the resilience of the Russian economy and economic operators to this unfriendly impact by this influential country … We should be freed from dollar dependence in the broad sense, including by creating our own payment systems, or multilateral ones, with other partners," Ryabkov stated.
The US Department of Treasury announced expansion of sanction lists related to North Korea and sanctions linked to cyberspace actions on Tuesday. Sanctions related to North Korea are introduced sanctions against two companies based in Russia and six vessels under the Russian flag, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) reported. Cyberspace-related sanctions are imposed against two Russian individuals, one Russian company and one company from Slovakia.
Also on Wednesday, Ryabkov harshly criticized US foreign policy.
"As usual, there is no evidence, no grounds, only some malicious insinuations. They apply the 'the worse, the better' principle. What kind of improvement in bilateral Russian-US relations are they talking about in Washington?" Ryabkov told the International Affairs media outlet.
The official also addressed the recent US sanctions against Russia over Moscow's alleged use of a nerve agent in the United Kingdom in March. The aforementioned sanctions took effect on Wednesday.
He also said that Washington was attempting to ram its sanctions policy through the UN, stressing that the US would not succeed on the issue.
"We will counter the rigid, blind and aggressive approach of the United States to solving bilateral and international problems with calm, methodical work on a constructive agenda. We responded and will respond to sanctions in a way that does not damage our own interests," Ryabkov added.
Earlier in August the US announced new anti-Russian sanctions over an alleged attack against former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal in the UK in March. The new sanctions ban exports of electronic devices and dual-use components to Russia. However, neither Washington, nor London has provided evidence regarding the case that could possibly link Moscow to the alleged attack.
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