While the announcements of Western countries, led by America, to impose economic sanctions on Russia due to the crisis in eastern Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said today, Wednesday, that it will respond forcefully to the new US sanctions in an effective and painful way for Washington.

German Foreign Minister Annalina Birbock stated that the sanctions imposed on Russia target companies, banks and individuals involved in violating Ukraine's sovereignty, after Russia announced two days ago its recognition of the "Republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk, which Ukraine considers part of its territory.

She added during a joint press conference with her French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, that these sanctions will restrict Russia's ability to raise funds from global markets and may be tightened at any time.

Birbock said the Russian president is trying to turn the wheel of history back in eastern Ukraine at the expense of his neighbors.

For his part, the French foreign minister said that Putin seeks to abolish Ukraine as a sovereign state.

Reuters quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the European Union ambassadors had approved the sanctions against Russia, while the American Wall Street Journal quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the European Union intends to impose sanctions on the Russian defense minister and a Russian research agency.

As for the British newspaper "The Guardian", it said that the European sanctions affect the Russian defense minister, chief of staff, commander of the Black Sea Fleet and commander of the Aerospace Forces.

And the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, Josep Borrell, had announced the imposition of European sanctions on Russia, which include 27 entities and people as part of a first package of sanctions, which he said have contributed to undermining the sovereignty of Ukraine, and said that the sanctions include banks that finance Russian decision-makers and any activity in the separatist regions.


De-escalation

During a speech to the House of Commons, Johnson expressed his hope that President Putin would take a decision to reduce the escalation, warning at the same time that the West was ready to impose more sanctions on Russia.

Johnson stressed the need for coordination between Western capitals in the face of Moscow, stressing that Putin's economic interests will be surrounded in Paris, London and New York simultaneously.

In London, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss expressed her country's fear that Russian President Vladimir Putin might not stop at Ukraine.

The British Foreign Secretary also said that London would prevent Russia from selling sovereign debt in London, and Truss vowed to impose tougher sanctions on businessmen close to power, and on key institutions in Russia.

And US President Joe Biden announced yesterday evening the imposition of sanctions on two Russian financial institutions and on Russian sovereign debt, in response to the measures taken by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Biden considered the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In a speech at the White House, Biden emphasized that sanctions would also be imposed on Russian elites and their family members who benefit from the Kremlin's policies, and pledged tougher sanctions if Russia continued to escalate them.


sanctions

In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described what he described as Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine as an attack on democracy and a threat to peace around the world.

He added in a tweet on Twitter that Canada, in coordination with allies and partners, will impose a first package of economic sanctions on Russia.

As part of Western sanctions against Russia, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that his country will impose sanctions against some Russian individuals and financial institutions.

Morrison stressed that the sanctions that his country will impose on Russia is just a first package that will be followed by other sanctions.

In turn, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the imposition of sanctions on Russia, which include banning the issuance of Russian bonds in Japan and freezing the assets of some Russian individuals.

Kishida called on Russia to return to diplomacy, and said that he did not see a significant impact on energy supplies in the short term, noting that his government would take further steps according to developments.


impose a state of emergency

For his part, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged Western countries to impose more sanctions on Russia to pressure it to stop the escalation.

In a tweet on Twitter, Kuleba expressed his gratitude for the first package of Western sanctions, which he described as decisive, and said it was necessary to increase pressure and hit the Russian economy and the personalities surrounding the Russian president.

In Kiev, the Verkhovna Rada voted to impose sanctions on Russian lawmakers who participated in the recognition of the so-called "Donetsk and Luhansk" republics of eastern Ukraine.

Parliament submitted a memorandum to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, which is within its power to issue the final decision.

A senior security official in Ukraine said on Wednesday that Kiev will impose a nationwide state of emergency, during which special restrictions will be applied to maintain the country's calm and protect its economy.

Oleksiy Danilov told a news briefing that the state of emergency would remain in effect for 30 days and could be extended for a similar period, and a vote in Parliament must now be held to enact a law on the decision.

The emergency declaration gives powers to the authorities, who can choose which one to apply.

Powers could include restrictions on transportation, additional protection for critical infrastructure facilities, and a ban on strike action.


Russian reply

For its part, the Russian Foreign Ministry said today, Wednesday, that it will respond forcefully to the new US sanctions in an effective and painful way for Washington, stressing that the measures imposed on Moscow contradict US interests.

In the same context, the Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, stressed that the sanctions will harm the global financial and energy markets.

Antonov considered that the damage of the sanctions will also affect the United States, where ordinary citizens will feel the full consequences of the price hike.

In a post on the embassy's Facebook page, Antonov said he did not remember a single day when Russia lived without any restrictions from the Western world, and that Russia learned to work and develop under restrictions.

He added that his country has learned how to operate in such circumstances, as it has not only been steadfast but is developing, as he put it.

For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed Moscow's openness to dialogue and its readiness to solve the most difficult international problems through diplomatic means.

On the occasion of the Russian Army's founding day, Putin stressed at the same time that Russia's security and national interests are not negotiable.