Russia will join its "black list" with a new "group of American figures" in response to the next package of US sanctions. This was stated by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. He noted that the Russian side will observe the principle of parity in everything plus will prepare additional measures based on national interests. "From the very beginning we support parity in the number of persons included in the sanctions registers," Ryabkov noted.. "Other steps are possible on our part, which we will calibrate, according to our own interests," the diplomat said in an interview with RIA Novosti.. According to him, the measures being prepared by the Russian Federation are not a choice or a method of Moscow: "We do this only because of American political stubbornness and unwillingness to perceive reality". In Russia they understand that "by destroying Russian-American relations, these [American] politicians play with fire, because they simultaneously undermine global stability".

Therefore, Moscow assumes the additional responsibility for maintaining at least a minimal opportunity for a dialogue with Washington, on which so much depends in the modern world as a whole. At the same time, the United States must finally understand that it will not be possible to impose its will on Russia. Our country will never compromise its interests, the diplomat stressed.. "The question arises, why Washington, which tries to" punish us "for an independent course in the international arena, regularly adds sanctions? Just because the previous measures of pressure did not work: neither bans on economic cooperation with us, nor threats of blocking remittances, saber rattling at our borders, which is getting louder, no refusals in visas, no other attempts, "- said Ryabkov. He said that the latest expansion of US sanctions became the 50th since 2011. , "when the US turned down the" resetting "of relations with Russia announced by them". On Thursday, March 15, the US Ministry of Finance unveiled a new list of persons falling under anti-Russian sanctions. It included 19 citizens of the Russian Federation and five legal entities. At the same time, the US State Department announced that they are ready to impose additional sanctions against Russia in connection with the "Skripal affair".

Ex-Colonel GRU Sergei Skripal, who turned out to be a double agent, and his daughter Julia were found on March 4 in the British Salisbury in a deranged state. According to local special services, they were exposed to a nerve agent. This gave grounds to Prime Minister of Great Britain Therese May to accuse Russia of a chemical attack on the territory of the Kingdom, in connection with which the UN Security Council was convened. In addition, London expelled 23 Russian diplomats from the country. Moscow rejected the accusations and warned of retaliatory steps.