MOSCOW, October 24. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin vows a overwhelming response to the latest US sanctions, while there is still a window of opportunity for Russia-US dialogue on New START. Meanwhile, the EU agrees on the 19th package of sanctions on Russia. These stories topped Friday's newspaper headlines in Russia.
Even though the new US sanctions on Russian oil majors will not affect the country’s economy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, this is an unfriendly step that will not help normalize relations between Moscow and Washington. The country reserves the right to retaliate, Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the international committee of the Russian State Duma, or lower house of parliament, told Izvestia. However, Washington did not cross the red lines, deciding not to send Tomahawk missiles to Kiev, so the potential for continued Russia-US dialogue remains, experts say.
On Wednesday night, US President Donald Trump imposed the broadest sanctions on Russia, as the country’s largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, as well as their 34 subsidiaries, were designated. Moscow reacted quite calmly to the latest US move. While the United States is thus attempting to put pressure on Russia, not a single self-respecting country acts under pressure, the Russian leader said as he called for engaging in a serious dialogue for the longer term instead.
