Al-Marsad newspaper – agencies: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned, on Saturday, that Moscow’s patience in the face of acts of economic aggression “has limits,” stressing that his country “will use all capabilities to protect its national interests if necessary.”
“We have all possibilities to protect our national interests. If necessary, we will use them to the maximum,” Lavrov told a local newspaper.
“Those who speak the language of sanctions with Russia should remember that while we are largely restrained in responding to acts of economic aggression, our patience will not be unlimited,” he added.
He added, “The disintegration of the Russian economy, as dreamed of by (former US President) Barack Obama, has not and will not be achieved.”
The Russian minister went on to say, “Everything they wanted to provoke in our country begins to appear in their own homes. A number of European countries are witnessing a sharp rise in prices, a decline in incomes, and a shortage of energy resources.”
Recently, the European Union countries agreed to impose the 8th package of sanctions against Russia, as a “strong response” to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annexation of some regions of Ukraine.
Within the framework of this sanctions package, which requires the approval of the 27 member states of the European Union, some institutions and personalities will be included in the sanctions list, along with restrictions on Russian trade and imports.
The proposed sanctions by the European Commission also provide for a ceiling on the prices of Russian oil exported to other countries.