Russian PM Compares Further Anti-Moscow Sanctions to Economic Warfare

Russian Prime Minister said that if some sort of ban on banking activities or currency ban was imposed on Russia — it would mean a declaration of economic war.

“All I can say is: if they ban banking operations or the use of any currency we will call it a declaration of economic war. And we’ll have to respond to it – economically, politically or in any other way, if need be. Our American friends should make no mistake about it,” he said during a trip to the Kamchatka region.

Earlier, the US Department of State announced new sanctions on Russia over the accusations of involvement in poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the United Kingdom in March. However, no evidence to substantiate the case has been presented by the US or the UK.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that it would lay out counter-measures to address the new sanctions.

The first package of the newly-announced US sanctions implies will include, according to media reports, a complete ban on the export of electronic devices and dual-use components to Russia, while the second one may imply a decrease in the level of diplomatic relations, a ban on flights by Russia’s Aeroflot carrier to the US and almost complete suspension of US exports.