TIRASPOL. March 23 (Interfax) - Sanctions are neither a mutually beneficial measure, nor a solution to a problem, Russia's Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Alexander Lukashevich, said in a comment on Moldova's intention to join the anti-Russian sanctions.
"The sanctions pressure is always a road into a dead-end to get out of. Any sanctions. It is not a way to exit situations. We similarly react to the European Union's illegal sanctions, which hit hard, primarily the economies of European countries. This sort of measures has never been of mutual gain to anyone," Lukashevich told journalists in Tiraspol after an inspection trip to Moldova.
In his view, "issues should be tackled bilaterally."
It was reported that Moldova's Foreign Minister Nicu Puposecu said his country planned soon to join the EU restrictions imposed on a number of Russian officials.
On Thursday the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow will retaliate in the event Chisinau joins anti-Russian sanctions.