Russia asks US to “not play with fire” after new sanctions

Russia warned the United States not to “play with fire” after adopting sanctions against seven senior Russian officials, holding the Kremlin responsible, in response to poisoning Alexei Navalny.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement on Tuesday night, referred to a “hostile and irrational US policy” with Moscow under an “insensitive and irrational US policy”, which only further damages bilateral relations.

Russia called Russian diplomacy an “absurd victory”, accusing it of using Navalny as an “excuse” to “openly intervene” in “internal affairs”.

“We will react on the basis of the principle of reciprocity,” the ministry said, assuring that “some sanctions imposed on Russia through sanctions or other pressures have failed in the past and will fail today.”

“We will continue to systematically and decisively defend our national interests. We will not reject any aggression. We urge our allies not to play with fire,” the Russian Ministry said, adding that the United States Had “lost the moral right to teach a lesson to others.”

Washington announced on Tuesday that it would approve top Russian officials.

These are the first sanctions against Russia announced by Joe Biden, who since taking office on January 20, has taken a much fierier tone towards Moscow than his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump.

The ban is directed against Alexander Burtnikov, head of powerful security services (FSB), head of prison services Alexander Kalashnikov, Attorney General Igor Krasanov and close aide to President Vladimir Putin, Sergei Kirianko.

For its part, the European Union on Monday formalized sanctions against four senior Russian officials trapped in the judicial process against the suppression of Navalny and his supporters.

pop / pz / pc / bl