Russian Foreign Ministry: Moscow will take 'asymmetrical measures' if the U.S. tightens sanctions
Moscow has prepared a series of “asymmetrical measures” that will be taken if Washington tightens sanctions on Russia, as stated by Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov while speaking at a meeting of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss the bill on the suspension of the plutonium disposal agreement with the U.S., TASS reported.
"The US policy of sanctions towards Russia has continued for a long time. We have used this period to do some research and to reserve a series of measures that might be used asymmetrically, if the regime of sanctions is tightened further," Ryabkov stated.
The Foreign Affairs Committee recommended that the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house, approve the law suspending the deal on the disposal of plutonium.
"From the international and legal viewpoint, the array of steps taken by the US led to a drastic change in circumstances that existed at the moment when the deal was signed," Ryabkov stated.
"This wording fits the provisions of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and allows suspending the effect of the agreement based on the convention,” he noted.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin set forth a list of conditions under which Moscow would consider resuming the plutonium disposal agreement, including an end to U.S. sanctions against Russia, compensation for the sanctions, and a reduction of the U.S. military’s presence in NATO member-states along Russia’s borders.
"It is evident that the current U.S. administration won't...lift sanctions or reduce the American military presence in Europe for the sake of resuming the effect of the agreement,” Ryabkov added.