Russia accuses West of wanting to harm Russians with sanctions – Observer

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday accused the West of waging war against the Russian people by imposing sanctions that affect ordinary citizens more than Russian leaders.

In a statement released after the European Union (EU) approved Russian oil embargo because of the war in Ukraine, Medvedev said that Westerners “hate” Russia.

Who are the authors [das sanções] wanted to punish? The President and the political and military leadership of the country? No, obviously not. (…) None of us have significant assets, assets or interests abroad,” Medvedev wrote on the Telegram messaging network.

Medvedev, the current deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, acknowledged that Russian owners of large companies are suffering losses from sanctions, but considered that “they are not fatal.”

According to the President of Russia between 2008 and 2012, the conclusion is that Western sanctions “aimed specifically at the Russian people”.

The EU on Monday approved a new package of sanctions against Moscow that includes an embargo on Russian oil imports until the end of 2022 to reduce Europe’s energy dependence.

According to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, this measure will reduce the EU bloc’s imports of Russian oil by about 90%, with the exception of landlocked countries such as Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

The war in Ukraine has exposed the EU’s excessive energy dependence on Russia, which accounts for about 45% of Europe’s gas imports.

Russia also supplies 25% of the oil and 45% of the coal imported by the EU.

Medvedev has also accused the West of lying when he says he wants to punish Russian leaders.

“To put it simply, they want to damage the economy, hit the ruble, increase inflation and drive up prices in stores, thereby lowering the standard of living of ordinary Russians,” he said.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 was condemned by the international community as a whole, with several countries and organizations imposing sanctions against Russia’s interests.

In response, Moscow cut off electricity to some countries such as Poland, Lithuania and, starting this Tuesday, Netherlandsdemanding payment for contracts in Russian currency, rubles.

Several countries have also supplied weapons to the Ukrainian army to fight Russian forces.

On Tuesday, the war entered its 97th day without an independent casualty balance that several sources, including the UN, admit will be high.

The UN has so far confirmed more than 4,000 civilian deaths, but has warned the number will be much higher.