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Valentina Matviyenko

ST PETERSBURG. – Russia will not leave new Western economic sanctions without a response, but the reaction needs to be measured and aimed at protecting national economic interests, the chairperson of the Russian Council of the Federation Valentina Matviyenko told journalists yesterday.

“Like any self-respecting state we, of course, cannot leave [the sanctions] without a response, but I think that our reaction has to be calm, measured, adequate and aimed firstly at protecting the national interests, national economy,” Matviyenko said.

According to Valentina Matviyenko, sanctions have never been effective. “It is well known that speaking with Russia in the language of ultimatum, threats, sanctions is absolutely senseless and counter-productive,” she added.

Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated following the situation in Ukraine.

On Friday, the US Treasury Department confirmed that it was once again expanding sanctions against Russian companies and increasing the number of sanctioned Russian entities in the financial, energy and defence sectors. On the same day, a new set of European Union sanctions against Russia came into force.

Moscow warned that it could respond to new Western sanctions to protect Russia’s interests. – RIA Novosti.