Russian Security Council Believes West Likely to Expand Sanctions on Energy, IT Sectors

MOSCOW, July 13 (Sputnik) - Alexander Abelin, an aide to the secretary of the Russian Security Council, noted on Monday a high risk of expansion of Western sanctions on Russian companies working in the energy sphere machine building industry and the IT sector.

"The Russian economic security could face a significant threat amid the high risk of expansion of the sanction pressure on Russian companies and their foreign partners, first of all those engaged in oil and gas sphere, machine building, and IT", Abelin told reporters.

The US and EU have introduced several rounds of sanctions on Russia since 2014, when Crimea held a referendum in which 97 percent of voters supported reunification with Russia.

Western countries and Kiev have not recognised the legitimacy of the referendum.

Moscow has denied any interference in Ukraine's affairs and insisted that the referendum was carried out in line with international law.