Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov boldly asserted Russia’s ability to sidestep the latest sanctions imposed by the European Union. During a visit to Beijing, Siluanov stated, “We will simply redirect sales to other regions. I’m sure this won’t benefit those who introduced these sanctions,” as reported by the state news agency TASS.
The European Council recently implemented a fresh set of sanctions prohibiting the import of Russian-origin non-industrial diamonds. These measures also include additional import and export bans on Russia, aiming to combat sanctions evasion and close existing loopholes.
As the world’s foremost diamond producer by volume, Russia holds a dominant position in this market. Alrosa, the Russian diamond mining giant, primarily owned by the state and the Yakutia region, refrained from commenting on the sanctions.
Despite this silence, the Kremlin conveyed its preparedness for the latest EU sanctions, enacted in response to what Moscow refers to as a “special military operation” in Ukraine.
In retaliation against these “unfriendly and illegitimate actions,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced plans to expand the list of European institution representatives and EU member states barred from entering Russia.
Additionally, Russia’s diplomatic mission to the European Union strongly criticized the attempts to isolate the country’s economy, labeling the latest sanctions as “illegitimate restrictions, political blackmail, [and] neo-colonial approaches.”
This defiant stance from Russian authorities underscores their determination to navigate and counteract the repercussions of the EU sanctions, reflecting the escalating tensions between Russia and the European Union amid the ongoing geopolitical discord surrounding Ukraine.
