Updated 11:01 p.m. Moscow time.
MOSCOW, October 15 (RIA Novosti) - Western sanctions against Russia over its alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis will not help to resolve the situation, but will rather hinder dialogue and could seriously undermine economic stability in the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"Our partners should be well aware that attempts to put pressure on Russia with unilateral and illegitimate restrictive measures will not bring about a settlement, but rather impede the dialogue," Putin said in an interview with Serbian newspaper Politika ahead of his visit to Belgrade scheduled for October 16.
"If the main goal is to isolate our country, it's an absurd and illusory goal. It is obviously impossible to achieve it, but the economic health of Europe and the world can be seriously undermined," Putin stressed.
In his previous comments the Russian President has stressed that the sanctions hurt not only the target country but also those using the measure.
On Wednesday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the sanctions that have been imposed on Russia by the United States have damaged Russia-US ties. Medvedev, however, expressed hope that the restrictive measures would soon be lifted, becoming "a thing of the past".
The West has introduced several rounds of sanctions against Russia over the past few months, unjustifiably blaming Moscow for meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs. The economic sanctions target Russia's largest energy and defense companies, as well as financial institutions and certain individuals.
Russia responded to the sanctions with a ban on food imports from the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia and Norway.
