MOSCOW. April 16 (Interfax) - Russia would like to avoid a further escalation of tensions in relations with the United States, but it will respond to any sanctions measures from Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
"We would like to avoid a further escalation with the U.S. We are prepared for a calm and professional dialogue with the American side in the interests of the search for ways to normalize our bilateral ties," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its website in the wake of the U.S. sanctions announced on Thursday.
"However, the reality is such that what we hear from Washington is absolutely different from what we see in practice. There should be no doubts that not a single wave of sanctions will go unpunished," the ministry said.