Russia Will Not Stop 'Defending Its Interests Despite Sanctions': Ambassador to US Antonov
© Sputnik . Alexei Danichev
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WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Over the past year and a half, Western countries have imposed about 15,000 sanctions on Russia. These restrictions are meant to restrict Russian energy, food, and fertilizer exports, as well as imports of high-tech products and various finished goods. Moscow has shifted its trade to countries in the Global South.
Sanctions lead nowhere, Russia will not stop defending its national interests, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said commenting on a new package of US sanctions.
"It’s high time Washington realized that the spiral of sanctions will lead nowhere. Our country will never cease to defend its national interests while firmly upholding the principles of equality and indivisibility of security in international relations. Recent Russia-Africa, BRICS, and G20 summits have shown that we have many supporters on this issue," Antonov said when asked to assess a new package of anti-Russian restrictions that affected 24 persons and nearly 150 companies.
He said many restrictions have been imposed against Russia in vain.
"Washington, once again, has ramped up its futile efforts to destroy Russian economy. Either out of despair, or because of illusions, the US authorities fanatically invent new measures to harm our country. There have already been thousands of illegal unilateral restrictions imposed against Russia. However contrary to the Western countries’ expectations they have not been effective in defeating our economy," Antonov said.
"Russia’s fast adaptation to new realities irritates our ill-wishers. Its inconvenience for the US Government is confirmed not only by the Bretton Woods Institutions’ current estimates, but also by their future projections. Even journalists close to the White House acknowledge with disappointment that Russian economy stands firmly on its feet despite all the 'blitzkrieg' attempts," he said.
Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 in response to calls by the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics for protection from Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the operation, which targets Ukrainian military infrastructure, aims to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, and to completely liberate Donbas. Western nations have imposed numerous sanctions on Russia and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine.
