«An eye for an eye, a sanction for a sanction»: Russia has imposed retaliatory measures against the USA

Kremlin relations

On April 16, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on retaliatory measures against US sanctions against Russia. Earlier, on April 15, sanctions were imposed by the US president for Moscow’s alleged interference in the presidential election, a hacker attack on the servers of US government organizations, and so on.

AP Photo / Vincent Thian

“Today I approved the expulsion of several Russian diplomats because of their actions. I also signed a decree authorizing new measures, including sanctions,” — US President Joe Biden said.

A decisive answer.

The main part of the Russian sanctions concerns the expulsion and restriction of the work of American diplomats in Russia. This was a symmetrical response to the US decision. 

“Since Russia’s response to the sanctions has largely been to expel diplomats from Washington and restrict travel, it is likely that the Kremlin isn’t going to raise the stakes in the diplomatic game and may yet accept an invitation to hold a summit meeting, and possibly even this summer,” — The New York Times reports. 

The Russian Foreign Ministry has published on its website a blacklist of American officials who will be banned from entering Russia. In the end, it was stated that the Foreign Ministry didn’t rule out the possibility of imposing economic sanctions against the United States. 

“We, of course, understand the limitations of our capabilities to mirror the Americans economically, but there is a certain resource in this regard, and it will be used if Washington prefers to move along the sanctions spiral,” — the Russian Foreign Ministry said on April 16 on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry. 

Also, the Russian authorities have repeatedly replied that they have nothing to do with the alleged “interference” in the US presidential election in 2020.

What will happen next?

The sanctions imposed by the United States against Russia were the first measures under President Joe Biden. The United States decided to expel ten Russian diplomats, and also banned its companies from acquiring Russian debt obligations. 

The new sanctions were imposed two days after a telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, in which the US president offered to hold a personal meeting.

photo: Global Look Press

“At the moment, Russia does not have the ability to adequately respond to US sanctions on outstanding debt, but these sanctions are on the shoulder of the Russian economy,” — the Foreign Ministry said.

One way or another, relations between Russia and the United States will remain quite tense during Biden’s presidency, because he won’t be afraid to act extremely harshly towards Russia.