Russia has drawn up new anti-Western sanctions: Putin aide

MOSCOW, Russia – Moscow has drawn up new anti-Western sanctions targeting imports of consumer goods and second-hand cars, President Vladimir Putin’s economic aide said on Thursday, September 11, as the European Union agreed to slap new punitive measures on Russia.

“As far as I know, right now the economic development ministry has already put together a list of these goods,” Putin’s aide Andrei Belousov was quoted as saying by the state RIA Novosti news agency.

“We have a number of non-agricultural goods where our partners — particularly in Europe — depend on Russia more than Russia does on them.”

“This concerns the import of cars, first and foremost second-hand ones, this concerns several types of consumer goods which we can already produce ourselves. Not all but some types of clothing,” Belousov was quoted as saying.

EU member states have agreed to bring a new round of sanctions into effect against Russia on Friday, sending the ruble plunging to a record low against the dollar.

Belousov said companies targeted by Western sanctions would be propped up by the state. “Forms of support are now being worked out,” he said.

Last month Russia banned most food imports from the United States and the European Union in retaliation for Western sanctions.

Moscow has also threatened to block flights of European airliners over its airspace.

The new EU sanctions came as fighting in eastern Ukraine rumbles on despite a ceasefire agreed between Ukraine and separatists last week. – Rappler.com