The United States has no interest in escalating, but reserves the right to respond to Russian countermeasures. This was announced on April 16 to TASS by a representative of the State Department.
“Our recent actions (anti-Russian sanctions. – Ed.) Were proportionate and consistent with the harmful activities of Russia. Today’s announcement (measures – Ed.) By the Russian government was an escalation and is regrettable. It is not in our interests to enter the escalation cycle, but we reserve the right to respond to any retaliatory actions of Russia against the United States, ”the agency’s interlocutor said.
Earlier Friday, Moscow imposed countermeasures in response to new US sanctions. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced, among the retaliatory measures, the expulsion of 10 American diplomats, the limitation of the practice of short-term trips of diplomats through the State Department, and other measures. In addition, the sanctions list included eight current and former American high-ranking officials and figures involved in the development and implementation of the anti-Russian course.
At the same time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow has the opportunity to take painful measures for US business, but it will hold them back for now.
US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan said that the American Embassy in Russia is studying the retaliatory sanctions announced by Moscow and is consulting with Washington. He noted that the embassy had not received notes with details about the future work of American diplomatic missions in Russia.
According to the vice-speaker of the Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev, Moscow responded to the US sanctions promptly, extremely concretely and harshly. As he noted, the Russian response to US restrictions proves that all US sanctions are pointless and baseless.
Member of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption Adalbi Shkhagoshev called the sanctions a “destructive procedure.” But he noted that the lower house maintains the sanctions balance, which the Russian side adheres to.
US President Joe Biden signed a decree on April 15 introducing new anti-Russian sanctions. They affected 32 legal entities and individuals from the Russian Federation, who, according to the administration of the American leader, “made attempts to influence the US presidential elections in 2020, as well as other acts of disinformation and interference.” Also announced the expulsion of 10 employees of the Russian diplomatic mission in Washington.