"U.S. sanctions represent conspiracy against Europe"

"U.S. sanctions represent conspiracy against Europe"

MOSCOW -- Russia is "not afraid" of either the new or the previous sanctions that the United States introduced against it.

This is according to statements made by those connected with the authorities, from the circles of the president himself, to advisers in Russian ministries.

They stress that the U.S. sanctions represent "a conspiracy against Europe and an attempt to destroy America's economic competitor."

"The task is to make Europe as frightened as possible, destroy its economic ties with Russia, and thus afterwards sell it gas at any price, provided that Europe pays its share for the global security. It's a primitive and highly disgusting game," said Josif Diskin, a member of a Ministry of Economic Development Council.

Independent economists, however, point out that the sanctions in place so far have affected the economy of Russia.

"The financial market is in decline as is the ruble. Loans for Russian companies in American banks are much more expensive. The exclusion of our major raw material suppliers from long and medium-term markets is also a minus. However, these companies have a large amount of cash and are able to perform current payments in the next few years. But I would not look forward to it, because in that case they will not be able to make investments," says Valery Mironov from the Higher School of Economics.

Russia will not change its policy toward Ukraine because of the sanctions, economist Mikhail Khazin, a former member of the presidential administration, is convinced. In these measures against Russia, he sees a political game of the West directed against Vladimir Putin personally.

"The political...