UPDATE: Official: Russia not to leave US sanctions threats unanswered

(Adds Russian comments in paragraphs 1-3)

MOSCOW, Oct 17 (PRIME) -- Russia will retaliate to threats by the U.S. to slap on new sanctions, and the answer will probably not mirror the U.S. actions, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters on Monday.

“Our answer to the threats streaming from Washington and not ceasing for a single day, is the following: this is a sign of weakness of the U.S. administration and of the absence of available tools which would allow them to find a middle ground on a realistic basis,” Ryabkov said.

State Department Spokesperson Mark Toner said on September 30 the U.S. does not rule out new sanctions against Russia if a diplomatic solution for the conflict in Syria is not found.

On October 15, Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported that Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to suggest that the E.U. toughen anti-Russian sanctions. U.S. President Barack Obama then promised to support Merkel in her decision.

But E.U. foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that not a single E.U. country has offered new sanctions against Russia due to the situation in Syria.

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