Updated on 03:00 a.m. Moscow Time
MOSCOW, September 8 (RIA Novosti) - New Sanctions against Russia in energy or finance sectors could trigger an asymmetric response from Moscow, such as closing its airspace, Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told the Vedomosti newspaper in an interview released Monday.
“It is them [the West], who should be asked whether there will be new sanctions. But if there are sanctions, linked with energy, [or] further restrictions on our finance sector, we will have to respond asymmetrically. For instance, [with] restrictions in transport area. We act on the premise of friendly relations with our partners, and this is why the sky above Russia is open for flights. But if we are restricted, we will have to answer,” Medvedev added.
The prime minister argued that certain Western airlines could go bankrupt in case they are banned to use Russia’s airspace.
“But this is a bad option. I just would like our partners to realize it at a certain moment. Especially, [considering the fact] that the sanctions do not help to establish peace in Ukraine. They miss [beside the mark], and an absolute majority of the politicians understand it. There are just an inertness of thinking and, unfortunately, the will to use force in international affairs,” Medvedev stressed.
Earlier, a number of European politicians told RIA Novosti that Brussels would introduce a new wave of sectoral sanctions against Russia on Monday. Late July, the European Union and the United States imposed restrictions against Russia’s oil and banking sector over Moscow’s stance in the Ukrainian internal conflict. In response, Russia banned certain food products importation from the Western nations, which introduced anti-Russian sanctions.
