Moscow, (EFE).- Russian President Vladimir Putin called the sanctions adopted by the United States against Rosneft and Lukoil «unfriendly» on Thursday and warned that they would affect bilateral relations.
«Of course, it is an unfriendly act against Russia. That is obvious. And this does not strengthen Russian-American relations, which were just beginning to be reestablished,» Putin told local media in the Kremlin Palace.
Putin said the sanctions have a political aspect and are an attempt to exert pressure on the Kremlin.
«No self-respecting country or people ever makes decisions under pressure. Russia undoubtedly has that privilege,» he said, stressing that «dialogue is always better than confrontation, much less war.»
«Therefore, we always support continuing the dialogue,» Putin noted.
Regarding the possible supply of American Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, which Trump has ruled out for the moment, Putin considered it «an attempt at escalation if attacks against Russian territory are carried out with such weaponry.»
«The response will be powerful, to say the least. Let them think about it,» he said.
Warn of rising oil prices
On the economic front, Putin said that «there will be concrete consequences, but they will not notably impact our financial well-being.»
Putin noted that, during his last telephone conversation with Trump, he warned him that «if the volume of our hydrocarbons in the world market is sharply reduced, prices will increase.»
«What will that lead to? It will lead to a sharp increase in oil and oil product prices, including at gas stations. The US will not be an exception,» he said.
He emphasized Russia’s significant contribution to the global energy balance, which benefits both producers and consumers.
«Breaking that balance is a thankless task, even for those who want it,» he said.
However, he expressed confidence that the sanctions will not cause greater changes in the world market.
The Kremlin leader also warned Washington that, although the US leads in extraction with 13.5 million barrels per day, ahead of Saudi Arabia and Russia, it consumes 20 million barrels per day.
«Meanwhile, Russia and Saudi Arabia sell more than they consume,» he stressed, adding that replacing Russian crude would require time and greater investments.
Putin recalled that, during Trump’s first term (2016–2020), he approved the highest number of sanctions against Russia.
An act of war, former president says
Meanwhile, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized on Telegram those who maintained the illusion that Trump was a Russian ally.
«The US is our adversary, and its loose-cannon ‘peacemaker’ has now fully embraced war with Russia,» Medvedev said, adding that Ukraine is now Trump’s war, not Biden’s.
He stressed that adopting sanctions constitutes «an act of war against Russia,» which is why he called for taking up arms and renouncing «unnecessary» negotiations and «senseless deals.»
«Trump has now fully sided with demented Europe,» Medvedev denounced.
US and EU Sanctions
On Wednesday, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, stating that they are in response to «Russia’s lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.»
Both companies had already been sanctioned by the US; however, this time the sanctions extend to their subsidiaries and linked companies in which they hold a stake of over 50%, either directly or indirectly.
The new penalties include blocking all assets and interests in US territory, prohibiting transactions by US persons or companies, and excluding them from the US financial system.
On Thursday, the European Union announced its 19th package of sanctions against Russia, which includes restrictions against the Russian ghost fleet and brings forward by one year the prohibition of importing Russian liquefied natural gas.
Additionally, the package imposes sanctions on Chinese and Indian companies that assist Moscow in evading international sanctions. EFE
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