MOSCOW. Oct 27 (Interfax) - The United States is continuing its policy of restraining Russia and uses political levers to foster its interests in the market, so the list of Russian entities which may be hit with additional U.S. sanctions has not come as a surprise, the head of the State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee, Leonid Slutsky, told reporters on Friday.
"The list of Russian entities which may fall under U.S. sanctions is not surprising. The U.S. keeps restraining Russia and using political levers to promote its interests in the markets of various industries," Slutsky said.
As to whether the blacklist may affect Russia-U.S. relations, he said, "It won't make them better, that's for sure."
The current level of the bilateral dialogue is much lower than it was during the Cold War, and the U.S. administration's actions are aggravating the situation, Slutsky said.
"Will they [additional sanctions] harm Russian defense enterprises? Not significantly, I hope," Slutsky said.
Russia is steadily substituting imports and searching for reliable partners capable of conducting their policy without looking back at Washington, he said.
The New York Times has published a document that the Department of State submitted for Congress' consideration. The document lists entities that the White House wants to put under additional sanctions.
These include the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Foreign Intelligence Service, and the General Staff's Main Directorate, in addition to Kalashnikov, Izhmash, Tupolev, Almaz-Antey, Rosoboronexport, Rostec, MiG, Sukhoi, Admiralty Shipyards, the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, Oboronprom, Uralvagonzavod, and Russian Helicopters.