UPDATE: Russia readies settlement infrastructure against sanctions

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MOSCOW, Feb 8 (PRIME) -- Moscow pays special attention to creation of a secure settlement infrastructure with foreign countries in order to protect legal trade and economic relations from sanctions, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin told PRIME in an interview published on Tuesday.

"We put significant effort into protecting our legal trade and economic connections and investment projects from negative external influence,” Pankin said.

“At the same time, we pay special attention to establishment of a secure settlement infrastructure, including with foreign countries."

Russia hopes that the E.U. will not introduce sanctions against Moscow, which could harm the entire international financial system, Pankin said. Russia sees no use in discussing the U.S. sanctions, because the U.S. legislators 'lost connection with reality', he added.

Russia is ready to comply with the European rules for certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, but hopes that no red tape will take place. "We have to explain again and again that Nord Stream 2 is a solely commercial project, which will benefit the European consumers. We are ready to follow the European rules during certification but we hope in our turn for a rational approach and the absence of artificial links," Pankin said.

He also said that Russia is not interested in a gas crisis in the E.U., and such statements are an example of anti-Russia propaganda.

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