Foreign Ministry: Russia is preparing counter-sanctions against the US and Canada

Russia is preparing a response to US and Canadian sanctions for a more focused impact on these countries, should from the statement of the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova.

“These attempts, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the start of a special military operation, are just as futile and thoughtless as the incantations constantly heard in the West about the “strategic defeat of Moscow,” the press service of the Foreign Ministry quoted Zakharova as saying.

The diplomat noted that the United States is urging its allies to impose sanctions on Russia in order to pull up the falling ratings of President Joe Biden. For its part, Moscow is already preparing counter-sanctions “for a more focused impact” on Washington and Otawa.

“In conditions when the West, led by the United States, is acting extremely aggressively, not embarrassed in means, Russian counter-sanctions will continue to be built on the basis of the principles of strict reciprocity and the inevitability of punishment,” she concluded.

The US Department of the Treasury and the US Department of Industry and Trade announced new sanctions against Russia on February 24. The Ministry of Trade included 76 Russian companies in the sanctions list for supporting the Russian military-industrial complex, including the fund “Skolkovo”, “Skoltech”, “Kamaz”etc. The agency has tightened export control rules for Russia and Belarus – restrictions affect the metallurgical, aviation and nuclear industries, as well as construction in terms of heavy construction equipment and electrical equipment. The US Treasury has included 83 legal entities and 22 individuals on the sanctions lists.