Russia’s former president has warned “there will be hell to pay” as he raged at the United States and the European Union for approving a new package of sanctions – the first openly targeting its gas sector.
A defiant Dmitry Medvedev brutally rejected the economic measures as he insisted Moscow would be able to survive this latest blow.
The EU voted in favour of the new sanctions on Monday, adding 69 individuals and 47 entities to its ban list.
The Council of the EU said the additions have been found to be “responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”
Brussels specifically imposed a ban on “reloading services of Russia LNG (liquefied natural gas) in EU territory” as well as new investments into new or existing LNH projects.
Sweden and Finland will also now be allowed to cancel some Russian LNG contracts.
In a blistering post on Telegram, Medvedev hit out at the decision but argued it would backfire on the EU and its US ally.
He wrote: “Life has proven time and again that the so-called ‘sanctions from hell’ adopted by the EU on order from the US, pave the way to the Inferno solely for their own makers.
“So the 14th package of sanctions will not reach the goal, but will be yet another act of hostility.”
Medvedev continued: “We will survive this. But we won’t just forgive and forget, we’ve got a good memory.
“We won’t leave without response the intent to harm our people—and sanctions of any kind always hit people and businesses, but not authorities.
“We will thoroughly note down this very case of assault on our interests, and in a very short time will present our demands—and not only economic—to the hostile countries.”
He added: “There will be hell to pay.”
Russia has been the target of multiple sanction packages since the unilateral annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv’s allies have repeatedly attempted to cut off Moscow’s finances with fresh sanctions.
