Moscow Vows Strong Response to US Sanctions That Will Be Painful For Washington

The US introduced a new round of sanctions against Russia after President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognised the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in Donbass.

"There should be no doubts - the sanctions will result in a strong response, not necessarily symmetric, but well-calculated and painful for the American side", the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Moscow also stressed that the American sanctions policy is counterproductive, but that it has also become a reflex for Washington.

"Russia has proved that, despite all the costs, we are able to minimise the damage. And even more so, sanctions pressure can't affect our determination to defend our interests", the statement read, noting that this round of anti-Russian sanctions (101st) will not achieve its goal.

The statement comes in response to sanctions imposed by Washington on Tuesday. The restrictions target Russia's sovereign debt, as well as several banks and individuals following Moscow officially recognising the two Donbass republics, the DPR and LPR, as independent states. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday after the leaders of both republics appealed to Moscow, urging Ukrainian forces to stop the escalation in the region.

Ukrainian soldier smiles riding on a self-propelled artillery (File)

© AP Photo / Evgeniy Maloletka

The decision came as Ukrainian forces increased their attacks on the Donbass republics last week, forcing tens of thousands of civilians to flee to Russia's Rostov region. Multiple shellings against Donetsk and Lugansk were confirmed by the OSCE monitoring mission in Donbass.

However, the US claimed the attacks were fake and part of a provocation planned by Moscow to justify "intervention in Ukraine", something Russia has been accused of by the West, but has vehemently denied.