Putin Signs Law on Countermeasures against US and Its Allies

MOSCOW-Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law stipulating implementation of counter-sanctions against the US and its allies.

The legislation is to be applied to any state or person for “hostile actions” against Russia. It allows Russian authorities to cut international cooperation with foreign states, and to impose import and export restrictions among other countermeasures. Trade embargos will not extended to certain goods, however, that are imported by Russian citizens for personal use, RT reported.

 Contrary to public fears, the countersanctions do not apply to imported essential items, for which no replacements are produced in Russia or other countries.

The bill aimed at defending “economic interests and security” was drafted by State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin and the heads of all four parliamentary caucuses in mid-April. It was approved by Russian lawmakers by the end of May. The move came in retaliation to Washington’s economic penalties against Moscow.

In early April, the US Treasury included 24 Russians, including high-profile politicians, and 14 corporations on a sanctions list relating to alleged “malign activity around the globe.” The move has been repeatedly condemned by Russian authorities, with Moscow immediately promising to retaliate.

Putin:  US, Russia Should Think Together of How to Avoid New Arms Race

On the other hand, President Putin said ahead of his visit to Austria in an interview with the Austrian television and radio company ORF that Russia and the US may avoid a new arms race together, and Moscow expects that work in this area will be launched.  A fragment from the interview was broadcasted on the ORF radio on Monday.

“In a telephone conversation [US President] Donald [Trump] said that he is worried with a new arms race, and I agree with him. We were not initiators of this scenario. As you know, we did not withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty,” Putin reiterated, according to Itar Tass.

Putin shares “the US president’s opinion that we should think of how to avoid a new arms race,” he said. “And I hope that this work will start between us directly, personally, as well,” the Russian president stated.

Putin did not give a direct answer to the question on why his new meeting with Trump has not taken place so far. “This is what you should ask our colleagues from the United States about,” he answered. “To my mind, this is the result of a domestic political fight in the US.” The Russian president reiterated that the leaders met at international venues [G20 summits and APEC in 2017] and also held several telephone conversations.

The Kremlin press service earlier reported that on June 5 Putin will come to Austria on an official visit. Negotiations with President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz were scheduled for the visit.

H.M