Medvedev says Russia not to cancel countersanctions

MOSCOW, Nov 25 (PRIME) -- Moscow will not cancel its countersanctions without the E.U. cancelling its anti-Russian sanctions first, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in a news conference on Monday following negotiations with his Finnish counterpart Antti Rinne.

“If we discuss first actions on the part of Russia, like cancellation of any our restrictions that were introduced as a response, then the answer is well known, and you asked me knowing that. We will not cancel anything,” he said.

Sanctions and countersanctions do not make anyone happy, but there are some Russian companies that stand for their indefinite prolongation, he said.

Relations between Russia and the E.U. may improve if there are advancements in the settlement of an internal conflict in Ukraine. “If there are no advancements, these sanctions will stay here for a long time, and our countersanctions will stay for a long time as well,” he said.

Bilateral relations with individual E.U. countries are more important for Russia than relations with the E.U. in general, he said.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated to their worse since the Cold War due to a military conflict in Ukraine. The West introduced sanctions against some Russian individuals and firms and further against the energy and banking sectors. In response, Russia limited food imports from some countries, including the U.S., the E.U., Canada, Australia, and Norway.

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