Russia will cut ties with the US if President Putin is hit with sanctions
The Kremlin said on January 13 that if the US imposed personal sanctions on President Putin, it would be tantamount to Washington deciding to completely sever all relations with Moscow.
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| Russian President and his US counterpart. Photo: RT |
According to RT news agency, answering questions about the draft penalty proposed by a group of US Democratic congressmen, including direct restrictions onPresident Putinand measures aimed at paralyzing the country's banks, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Moscow has no plans to respond in any way because we still want to hope that at least some common sense will prevail."
“Imposing sanctions on the head of state and the leadership of Russia… is a way that can be compared to severing relations,” the official continued.
The proposed sanctions by US lawmakers are seen as a way to deter Russia from launching an attack on Ukraine. Western countries have accused Russia of massing 100,000 troops on the border with Ukraine, raising concerns that a military offensive is being planned in the near future. The Kremlin has denied any accusations that it is seeking conflict and said it has the right to move its troops anywhere on its territory.
The draft proposed by US lawmakers includes $500 million in security aid to Kiev and sanctions against Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and many officials in the Russian government.
