“Western sanctions in this situation are completely useless, they will not have an impact on Russia and on resolving a wider crisis within the framework of European security,” RIA Novosti quotes Stepanov.
He noted that Russia reserves the right to a symmetrical and asymmetric response.
Stepanov said earlier that Russia would respond to the sanctions imposed against it by the Canadian authorities in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.
The Canadian authorities have imposed sanctions on Russia in connection with the recognition of the DPR and LPR.