Alexander Grushko, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, referring to the country's experience in dealing with European sanctions, emphasized that Russia has prepared itself for the worst conditions and even a military confrontation with the West due to NATO's plans to increase defense spending.

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): According to the TASS news agency, Alexander Grushko, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, announced that Moscow will prepare for the worst conditions due to NATO's plans to increase defense spending. According to him, Russia will also continue to ensure its defense capability.

The senior diplomat told reporters yesterday after a meeting of the United Russia party's intra-factional group in the Russian State Duma: "We must prepare ourselves for the worst. We should not hope that some of the plans of NATO and the European Union member states against our country will not be implemented or will not be fully realized. We must calmly continue to ensure our security and defense capability."

According to Grushko, there are various problems that could hinder the implementation of the programs approved at the Hague summit and being developed by the European Union. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister believes that these problems raise doubts about the economic capabilities of NATO and the European Union countries, but one should not just hope for this, and it is necessary to take the necessary measures to reliably defend Russia's national interests.

Russia has enough experience to counter European sanctions
Alexander Grushko, answering a journalist's question, noted that Russia has managed to gain enough experience to withstand the pressure of Western sanctions and will definitely use this experience in the future.

“What else can the West offer? It is difficult to say. But we know that when it comes to sanctions, their imagination is unbridled. Of course, we have already gained sufficient experience in how to withstand the pressure of sanctions, both in terms of ensuring the interests of our social and economic development and in terms of imposing reciprocal sanctions.”

Grushko recalled that the most severe sanction imposed by the EU was “their silence” in connection with the explosions of the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

On the same day, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also noted the development of all sectors of the Russian economy, despite the imposition of sanctions. According to him, sanctions against Russia have affected only the countries that have imposed them, leading to a decrease in industrial production in these countries.

Yesterday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot revealed that a new package of anti-Russian sanctions is being developed in the EU, which, according to him, could be the toughest in the past three years. In response to these statements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recalled that the Russian side will do everything possible to minimize the consequences of France's possible threat to impose the most severe sanctions on Russia.