Official: Russia may not have tit for tat for US sanctions

MOSCOW, Aug 24 (PRIME) – The Russian response the U.S. sanctions may not be a mirror-like retaliation as Russia cannot compete with the U.S. economically, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview to the International Affairs magazine released on Friday.

“We don’t need to have 100% mirror-like measures. We cannot compete with the U.S. in the economic sphere as we are in different weight categories. We are deliberately vague in speaking about how we would respond, as the early announcements of our actions would weaken our position,” he said.

Russia may answer symmetrically and asymmetrically, it may expand its list of sanctioned politicians as impairment of rights of the U.S. politicians hurts their ego. Russia has many ways to respond without hurting itself, he said.

“I hear many discussions that Russia has to suspend supplies of rocket engines, aviation titanium, and uranium concentrate to the U.S. But this is self-destructive. We need to prepare ourselves that the Americans will sooner or later reject purchases of these Russian products or significantly reduce them,” he said.

“We shouldn’t run before the hounds. There will be no changes for the better anyway taking into account the current mood in the U.S.”

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