An attempt to change the political course of Russia with the help of sanctions failed, in connection with which the authors of new restrictions are simply trying to support the topic of restriction in the media. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.

“In recent years, the initiators of the sanctions pressure on Russia have already tried a lot, but nothing happened. The policy to force Russia to change its foreign and domestic policy, to abandon its own interests in favor of the US claims to world domination, has completely failed, ”the foreign ministry website cites its words.

“As we have already noted, the authors of numerous sanction lists now make the main calculation on the propaganda effect, on the constant promotion of the topic of sanctions in the media space,” she stressed.

Earlier, the media, citing an unnamed representative of the US administration, said that Washington intends to introduce a second package of restrictions on the case of poisoning in the British Salisbury of the former GRU officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. The first package of sanctions entered into force in 2018.

“After the introduction of the first package of sanctions in response to Russia's use of a“ newcomer ”(A-234. - RT) in the attempted murder of a private person in the United Kingdom, Russia did not provide the guarantees required by US law, so we put the second sanctions package, ”TASS cites his words.

Zakharov noted that in preparation for the introduction of the second phase of restriction, US President Donald Trump signed a decree on sanctions imposed for violation of the 1991 American law "On the control of chemical and biological weapons." She drew attention to the fact that, in contrast to Washington, Moscow destroyed all stocks of chemical weapons, which is confirmed by international inspections.

“The fact that the current sanctions will be in the 72nd since 2011, clearly demonstrates the collapse of all previous pressure attempts and the doom of new ones. Every time Washington just parades its powerlessness, ”the diplomat added.

“We would like to provoke Russia”

It should be noted that, according to a document published on the White House website, the US government should impede “the process of granting loans, financial or technical assistance” to the country in respect of which sanctions were imposed. It is emphasized that it is prohibited for US banks to provide loans or loans to the government of a country subject to sanctions, with the exception of those intended to "purchase food or other agricultural goods."

“The sanctions themselves announced, however, mainly duplicate the anti-Russian measures introduced in previous years. The US authorities have long restricted their banks in issuing loans and hindering Russia's interaction with international financial development institutions, as well as blocking the sale of many technologies and goods. There is nothing particularly new about this, ”stated Zakharova.

Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies, is convinced that the statement by an unnamed administration representative about the second package of sanctions was aimed at provoking Moscow.

“The Trump administration would very much like to provoke Russia and accuse her of everything, so that Russia would go to unilateral measures. So far they have failed, therefore, sanctions will be added metered after some time, ”he told RT.

"Stop the influence of Russia"

The incident in Salisbury occurred in March 2018. Britain accused Russia of poisoning Skripale, the United States and a number of other countries joined its position. However, evidence was never provided. Moreover, Russian specialists are not allowed to be investigated, and diplomats are not allowed to see the victims.

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The incident in Salisbury is used by Washington as an excuse for the sanctions, but their real task is to counter Russia's independent policy, believes Andrei Klimov, deputy chairman of the Federation Council for International Affairs, head of the commission for the protection of state sovereignty.

“They are not concerned with a reason, but with frequency,” he told RT. “These measures are not directly related to the Violinists, they are aimed at stopping the influence of Russia.”

At the same time, sanctions themselves do not harm the economy, but bilateral relations between Russia and the United States, said Vladimir Gutenyov, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, Industry, Innovative Development and Entrepreneurship.

“In this situation, one can only regret the lost time for the fruitful development of bilateral relations, which are of great importance not only for our countries, but also for other world economies,” he told RT.