loading…
“We consider it illegal,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in response to news reports about sanctions but before the government United States of America (US) officially announced it.
“The principle of reciprocity in this case is reciprocity applies, so that we can guarantee our best interests,” he said as quoted from US News, Friday (16/4/2021).
President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone earlier this week, and Biden proposed a meeting between the two leaders. Peskov on Thursday cast doubt on the prospects for this to happen, saying the new sanctions in no way contributed to such a meeting.
Also read: The situation in Ukraine heats up, Biden calls Putin to invite him to meet him
The new sanctions against Russia – a first under Biden – target a series of its financial institutions, as well as 16 organizations and 16 individuals in Russia. The US believes they are closely linked to the massive hacking attempt that came to light in December that infiltrated government servers. The hack was known as SolarWinds, named after the company whose software hackers exploited to gain access.
Also read: US Officially Imposes New Sanctions and Expels Russian Diplomats
Shortly after the US announced sanctions, Britain announced for the first time that British intelligence had concluded that the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR, was behind the SolarWinds attack. A statement from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the hack was part of a broader pattern of cyber instructions by the SVR which has previously sought to gain access to governments across Europe and NATO members.
US intelligence agencies concluded in January that elements of the Russian government were likely behind the attacks. The Biden administration at the time promised another form of retaliation.
Also read: Sunburst, The Worst Cyber Attack Ever To Hit The US
The measures announced Thursday also included the expulsion of 10 diplomats from the Russian embassy in Washington who the US said were, in fact, working for the Russian intelligence services. Following the Kremlin’s threat on Thursday morning, the US Embassy in Moscow is likely to face similar demands from Russia.
The move is likely to further exacerbate already deteriorating tensions between Russia and the West. Officials in the US and its allies have warned in recent days of a massive buildup of Russian troops along its border with Ukraine to levels not seen since the initial offensive on Ukrainian territory in 2014.
The Director of Defense of the US Intelligence Service, Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, told Congress on Wednesday that the presence of Russian troops could be used for rapid drills or perhaps a limited purpose attack.
– .
