MOSCOW. March 18 (Interfax) - Russian presidential aide Vladislav Surkov has claimed he is proud to be on Monday's U.S. list of Russian officials subject to sanctions because of Russia's policy toward Ukraine.
"I assess the decision of the Washington administration as recognition of my services to Russia. It's a great honor for me," Surkov told Moscow daily Moskovsky Komsomolets.
"I don't have any accounts abroad," he added.
The sanctions involve the freezing of assets on U.S. territory and bans on entry to the United States.
"What interests me about the United States are Tupac Shakur, Allen Ginsberg and Jackson Pollock. No visa is needed to access their works. So I'm not missing anything," he said.