It is “foolish” to consider that Western sanctions in opposition to Russian companies may have any impact on the Moscow authorities, Russian ex-president and deputy head of safety council Dmitry Medvedev was quoted as saying on Friday.
The sanctions will solely consolidate the Russian society and never trigger fashionable discontent with the authorities, Medvedev advised Russia’s RIA information company in an interview.
The West has imposed an array of sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, however one month into the conflict, the Kremlin says it can proceed the assault till it accomplishes its targets of Ukraine’s “demilitarisation and denazification”. Some of the sanctions have particularly focused billionaire businessmen believed to be near President Vladimir Putin.
“Let us ask ourselves: can any of these major businessmen have even the tiniest quantum of influence of the position of the country’s leadership?” Medvedev stated.”I brazenly inform you: no, no means.”
Medvedev stated there are a number of grounds underneath which Russia has the suitable to make use of nuclear weapons, together with an assault on the nation or encroachment on infrastructure because of which Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces can be paralysed. That demonstrated Russia’s “determination to defend the independence, sovereignty of our country, not to give anyone a reason to doubt even the slightest that we are ready to give a worthy response to any infringement on our country, on its independence,” he stated.
However, negotiations — even in essentially the most troublesome conditions similar to these round Ukraine — are Moscow’s most well-liked path to proceed, he added.
Medvedev stated opinion polls confirmed three-quarters of Russians supported the Kremlin’s choice to hold out a army operation in Ukraine and much more supported President Vladimir Putin. While downplaying the financial influence of sanctions, Medvedev stated the Russian authorities should discover “adequate solutions” by itself to spur the event of the plane, automotive and IT industries, amongst others.
“Now, it will be more difficult to tackle those issues, but on the other hand, we cannot rely on anyone,” Medvedev stated. “In this case, we will have to solve those problems ourselves.”
He lashed out at these Russians who spoke in opposition to the invasion whereas staying exterior Russia.
“You can be dissatisfied with some of the authorities’ decisions, criticise the authorities — this is normal,” he stated.”But you can not take a stand in opposition to the state in such a troublesome scenario, as a result of that is treason.”
Thousands of individuals have been earlier this month detained at Russia-wide protests in opposition to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, based on an impartial protest monitoring group.
