The White House announced sanctions against several Russian entities on April 15 and expelled 10 Russian diplomats in response to alleged Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election and cyberattacks on U.S. businesses and government agencies. In response to the U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia, local time on the 16th, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement, announced a number of countermeasures.
Russia “resolutely fights back”: Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement announcing a number of countermeasures
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova warned the same day, Russia will “resolutely fight back” the United States “aggressive behavior.”
Regarding the U.S. sanctions, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier in the day that Russia’s response has not changed, Russia will adopt the principle of reciprocity.
In response to the U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia, local time on the 16th, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement, announced a number of countermeasures. These include:
Expulsion of 10 U.S. diplomats on the basis of reciprocity, restrictions on short-term secondment of U.S. diplomats to Russia, and reduced the number of visas issued to U.S. short-term seconded diplomats to 10 per year; bans U.S. government-funded foundations and non-governmental organizations from operating in Russia; and prohibits U.S. diplomatic missions from hiring Russian and third-country citizens as administrative and technical employees.
In addition, Russia has banned eight current and former U.S. officials from entering the country, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, U.S. Attorney General Michael Garland and former U.S. Assistant National Security Officer John Bolton.
Russian Foreign Ministry: The United States uses its financial system to cover up acts of aggression
The U.S. sanctions against Russia, announced this round, also include a ban on U.S. financial institutions participating in a series of Russian bond and fund investments. In response, Russia said the United States is using its financial system to cover up acts of aggression.
15, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said at a regular press conference, the United States used its currency and financial system to cover up the implementation of aggressive policies, the United States will destroy the entire international legal system. All of the U.S. moves have raised questions about the viability of using the dollar as a preferred payment currency and the reliability of Western-controlled payment mechanisms, Zakharova said. Against this background, it is necessary to take measures to minimize economic losses and risks in the course of trading.
Russia reduced its holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds, and its long-term treasury debt was almost completely sold
Russia reduced its holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds by $389 million to $5,756 million in February 2021, according to U.S. Treasury Department data released Thursday. Russia sold a lot of long-term Treasury bonds compared with January, holding only $306m in February, compared with $2,744m in January.
Analysts: U.S. sanctions on Russian government bonds have only a “symbolic” impact
Experts at Oxford Economics believe the new round of sanctions will not have a serious impact on Russia’s budget and investors. Since the U.S. bans only U.S. financial institutions from buying Russian government bonds issued on the primary market, but still allows them to buy and sell Secondary Market Russian government bonds, the impact will be largely symbolic. The head of russia’s Federal Savings Bank, Sergei Grieve, also said the sanctions would not have serious consequences for the Russian economy.
Russians: Every day I hear that sanctions don’t change anything
For the United States announced sanctions against Russia on the 15th, U.S. President Joe Biden said the same day, he had previously told Russian President Vladimir Putin, the United States will soon take some action against Russia. Russian media commented that Biden threatened Russia and wanted Russia not to respond.
The latest U.S. sanctions, which Russian analysts and the public say are nothing new, will be a recalive response, and U.S. sanctions will not affect their lives.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry: Condemns U.S. sanctions against Russia
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Khatibzadeh said U.S. sanctions against Russia are the wrong way to act on the wrong path and violate international norms, Iran’s official news agency Ito reported Thursday local time, which Iran condemns.
At the same time, he said, the U.S. has become institutionalized by imposing sanctions on other countries under false pretenses.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The threat of sanctions against power bullying has been resisted and opposed by the international community
On April 16, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in response to questions that Russia and the United States are both permanent members of the UN Security Council, are major powers with important influence in the world and have important responsibilities for international peace and security.
We hope that the parties will resolve their differences through consultation and dialogue. The use of unilateral sanctions or the threat of sanctions in international relations is an act of bullying that is increasingly resisted and opposed by the international community.
