Official: UK may toughen anti-Russian sanctions after Brexit

MOSCOW, Nov 18 (PRIME) -- Russian companies should be ready for possible toughening of the anti-Russian sanctions by the U.K. following the Brexit, Sergei Belyayev, director of the Foreign Ministry’s second European department, told PRIME on Monday.

“We would like to attract attention of representatives of Russian businesses toward the statements of British officials about London’s intent to coordinate its sanction policy with the U.S. as well as with the E.U. after the Brexit. There is a possibility that there may be some toughening of the sanctions, and they should be ready for that,” he said.

The U.K. House of Commons is also openly discussing the possibility of slapping additional national sanctions, which is baffling, as these sanctions may hurt the British companies that want to cooperate with their Russian partners and may lead to flight of foreign investors from the British jurisdiction, he said.

Nevertheless, Moscow still adheres to the principle that it is ready to improve relations with all partners as long as the partners are ready to work together, he said.

He also said that Moscow and London were working together on adjustments to their trade regimes that should be done after the Brexit.

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