Moscow has rejected the new punitive measures in the EU’s 14th sanctions package against Russia, saying the sanctions are ineffective and will actually harm the European Union.
The West does not look at the consequences for its own economy or for the prosperity of people in the EU, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said in Moscow. Russia expects economic growth of more than 3% this year, more than ten times as much as Germany, for example.
“The purpose of the sanctions was to strangle the Russian economy and destroy the cohesion of society. The EU has achieved the opposite,” Grushko said. Russia also warned of a new increase in energy prices in the EU.
The foreign ministers of the 27 member states have approved the sanctions in Luxembourg, along with other new punitive measures over Russia’s war against Ukraine.
On Monday evening, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that in return additional representatives of EU politics, business and institutions would be denied entry to Russia. No details were given.
The Russian armaments company Vysokotochnye Kompleksy (High Precision Systems) announced that the sanctions against its companies, including a tank factory, were a sign of recognition that the military complex was functioning successfully. The sanctions would have no impact on arms production in the future, the report said.
Regarding the EU liquefied natural gas (LNG) sanctions against Russia’s multi-billion dollar LNG sector – the first time the sector has been hit with such measures – Russian analysts spoke of a blow to LNG producers.
