A warning issued by Russian lawmakers on Wednesday said that there will be “precise and painful” consequences for all countries that impose any type of sanctions against Moscow.
According to Reuters, Valentina Matvienko, the speaker of the Russian upper house of parliament, said that sanctions are a “double-edged sword,” while warning that countries that implement penalties against Russia will face consequences.
“Russia’s response to the sanctions, our so-called counter-sanctions, will be precise, painful, and without question sensitive for exactly those countries that imposed them on Russia,” Matvienko said.
Reuters wrote that Russian lawmakers have reportedly written legislation that would give authority to the Russian government to restrict imports of U.S. goods; however, it is unclear if the Kremlin supports the measure.
The Russian warning comes days after the U.S. issued a statement saying that they are backing off the initial indication that additional sanctions will be imposed on Russia for its alleged connection to a chemical attack earlier this month in the Syrian town of Douma.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Sunday on “Face the Nation” that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is set to announce new sanctions as early as Monday. But the White House denied her comments, saying that no final decision had been made.
Meanwhile, top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said that Haley “got confused” when she spoke about the sanctions, apologizing later when Haley retorted that “I don’t get confused.”
After Haley made the first remarks, several of President Donald Trump’s allies privately accused Haley to be a vocal Russia hawk that is attempting to box in the President on a decision.
Several sources close to the White House said that Trump, who has at times been hesitant to forcefully criticize Russia, has been reluctant about moving forward with additional sanctions.
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