Russia: US sanctions imposed against Moscow remove hope of better relations with the American administration

Russia Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev takes part in a summit of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) in honor of its 25th foundation anniversary, in Istanbul, Turkey, May 22, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Russia has said the fresh US sanctions imposed against Moscow are tantamount to a "full-scale trade war" and destroy prospects for better relations with Washington.

"The hope that our relations with the new American administration would improve is finished," said Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday.

He also said the new sanctions show that the administration of US President Donald Trump is completely powerless.

"The US President's signing of the package of new sanctions against Russia will have a few consequences. First, it ends hope for improving our relations with the new US administration. Second, it is a declaration of a full-fledged economic war on Russia. Third, the Trump administration has shown its total weakness by handing over executive power to Congress in the most humiliating way. This changes the power balance in US political circles," he said in a Facebook post.

Medvedev made the remarks shortly after Trump signed into law a bill by Congress that imposes new sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Russia may impose counter-measures

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement, saying Moscow will take counter-measures in response to the new US bans, which it described as short-sighted and a risk to global stability.

"It's high time to realize that threats and attempts to exert pressure on Russia will not make it change its course or sacrifice its national interests," it read.

Russia ‘won't bend or break’ 

Also on Wednesday, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia (seen above), announced that Moscow does not have any plans to alter its policies despite the new sanctions.

“If those who invented this bill were thinking that they might change our policy, they were wrong, as history many times proved. They should have known better that we do not bend and do not break,” he added.

“Some of the US officials were saying that this is a bill that might encourage Russia to cooperate... This is a strange form of encouragement. But it is not our habit to be resentful children," added the diplomat, who promised that Moscow would "not relent on finding means and ways" in the face of sanctions.  

The recently signed bill imposes tough additional sanctions on Russia over Moscow's alleged meddling in last year's US presidential election and Crimea's reunification with Russia in 2014.