MOSCOW. Feb 27 (Interfax) - Moscow is preparing response measures in the wake of last Friday's announcement by Washington and Ottawa about new anti-Russian sanctions, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
"We are preparing response measures on our part, applying creatively the accumulated experience for a more focused impact on Washington and Ottawa that is singing along with it," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a commentary on the ministry's website.
"In a time when the West led by the United States acts extremely aggressively, sparing no means, Russia's countersanctions will be further based on the principles of strict reciprocity and unavoidability of punishment," she said.
"The new sanction measures against Russian officials, public figures, financial institutions, defense enterprises and telecom companies remain focused on undermining our industrial and financial potential, on disconnecting Russia from global economic ties," she said.
"These attempts timed to coincide with the first anniversary of the beginning of the special military operation are as futile and thoughtless as the mantras about Moscow's strategic defeat, which are constantly being chanted in the West," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.
On February 24, the U.S. announced the imposition of sanctions against a number of Russian ministers and governors, among them Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov and Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev.
On the same day, the U.S. imposed blocking sanctions on a number of financial institutions, including the Credit Bank of Moscow, Bank St. Petersburg, Uralsib, Zenit, and MTS Bank. Apart from that, the U.S. Department of the Treasury added 22 individuals and 83 entities to the sanctions list.
In addition, U.S. President Joe Biden ordered that a 200% import duty be imposed on Russian aluminum starting on March 10, 2023.
Canada also announced last Friday the imposition of sanctions on 129 individuals and 63 entities.