Moscow Prepares to Respond to US and EU Sanctions - Russian Foreign Ministry

Moscow is developing a response to the sanctions imposed by the US and the EU. This was stated by Alexey Paramonov, director of the European First Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The question of retaliatory sanctions against the unprecedented and, from the perspective of international law, illegitimate sanctions pressure on Russia by the US and the EU is being developed by the Government of the Russian Federation," Paramonov’s remarks were cited by RIA Novosti.

At the same time, Paramonov noted that these sanctions do not reflect Russia's choices. According to him, Moscow has never used energy supplies as a tool of pressure, and Russian companies continue to fulfill their obligations regarding hydrocarbon supplies at full capacity.

The Foreign Ministry representative also stated that the campaign against Russians in Europe is an overt form of racism. He simultaneously highlighted the efforts of Pope Francis, who has shown sincere interest in understanding the situation in Ukraine and forming his own opinion.