Moscow has now reacted to the import ban on Russian oil and gas imposed by US President Joe Biden: The US has declared an economic war on Russia, says the Office of the President. “This is de facto so,” said Russian Presidential Office spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The Russian government will now carefully examine what steps to take.
Russia has been a reliable energy supplier and will remain so. “We have repeatedly said that Russia was, is and remains a reliable guarantor of energy security not only on the European continent, but also at the international level,” Peskov said, according to the Interfax agency. “And as you can see, energy resources are being delivered now as well.”
But “hostile excesses by the West” made “the situation very complicated and make us think about it intensively,” said Peskov, referring to the massive sanctions against Russia. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Nowak had previously openly threatened to stop gas deliveries through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in the Baltic Sea.
The government is taking measures to keep the Russian economy going. “Obviously there will be emotional gaps in the grocery chains for some time.” But this will soon pass. Russia had expected the sanctions and was preparing for them, Peskov assured.
