Vladimir putin said russia would not bow to US pressure, called new sanctions an "unfriendly step" and threatened a "stunning response" if Western long-range weapons were used against russian territory.
According to Reuters, putin's words came after US President Donald Trump's decision to impose sanctions on oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil. The move marked a sharp shift in Washington's policy towards russia's war in Ukraine.
Putin said the sanctions would not have a serious impact on the russian economy: "This is, of course, an attempt to put pressure on russia. But no self-respecting country and no self-respecting people ever make decisions under pressure."
He also ironically noted that the restrictions allegedly "will cost the EU dearly" due to the "ban on the purchase of our toilets," although in fact it is a ban on the import of European plumbing to russia.
Commenting on the lifting of restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western long-range missiles, putin warned: "If such weapons are used to strike russian territory, the response will be very serious, if not overwhelming. Let them think about it."
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump's sanctions are aimed at limiting the Kremlin's financial capabilities and forcing Moscow to negotiate, but it is not yet clear whether other major buyers of russian oil, in particular India, will join this step.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on October 21, it became known that the planned meeting between US Secretary of State Mark Rubio and russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which was supposed to take place this week and be a preparatory stage for the talks in Budapest, has been postponed indefinitely.
Trump himself stated that he always has good conversations with putin, but they do not lead anywhere. He also stated that "putin wants everything, not just a part."
Meanwhile, putin himself claims about the meeting that it would be a mistake "to approach this easily and leave after this meeting without the expected result." According to him, Trump allegedly agreed with this.
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