The Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov described US new sanctions as an illegal and desperate step, while US President Donald Trump was evaluating journalists on signing the bill to expand sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

The Kremlin spokesman Peskov said that Russia would do what it needed to protect its interests. “All the steps needed to protect the interests of Russia are to be taken. No one should be in doubt for that.”

“All countries, including Iran, will try to protect their interests against these unlawful sanctions,” Peskov said.

Peskov stressed that no one should doubt that Russia will do what it needs to protect its own interests, he said, “We will continue to be a reliable partner for Europe's energy security after sanctions.”

Medvedev: Sanctions commercial war

Russian Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev, in a statement he made earlier, has reacted to Donald Trump's signing of new sanctions against Russia that the US Congress approved last week.

Explaining in the social media account, Medvedev described the new sanctions of the US against Russia as “a completely commercial war.”

Medvedev stressed that the new sanctions also concluded that Russia wants to improve relations with the US administration.

What are the contents of the sanctions?

The bill, approved by the US Congress, was prepared for the assertion that Russia was interfering with the US presidential election held in 2016 and the reaction of Russia to the annexation of Crimea.

The law targeting Russia's energy sector also includes a provision that makes it difficult for the US President to lift sanctions against Russia.

ILKHA