Putin spox: Russia to stick to reciprocity over US sanctions

RUSSKY ISLAND, Vladivostok, Sep 2 (PRIME) -- The reciprocity principle is a key one in the issue of sanctions and Russia will stick to it, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said told reporters Friday.

“We have to analyze what has been expanded and in what volume. But traditionally the principle of reciprocity is a key one in this issue and we will stick to it,” he said.

On Thursday, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department put several affiliates of Russian gas giant Gazprom, Gazprombank, the Bank of Moscow, and other companies and individuals on the sanctions list.

“We are not holding discussion over sanctions, are not talking about easing something. We do not consider this rhetoric constructive, prospective and helpful in solving any problems,” Peskov also said.

First Deputy Economic Development Minister Alexei Likhachyov believes that the sanctions expansion by the U.S. will bring a minimal damage to the Russian economy.

Top lender Sberbank CEO German Gref also believes that the sanctions will not strongly affect the country’s economy and are rather a political issue.

Deputy Transport Minister Viktor Olersky said that the new sanctions introduced against companies, involved in construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait, will not affect implementation of the project.

End