WAR DRUMS: Russia Warns US Of “Painful” And “Asymmetrical” Response To Any New Sanctions

Russia warned on Wednesday of “asymmetrical” and “painful” response if the United States were to place new or tougher sanctions on Russia.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov made the remarks to Russian lawmakers on Wednesday after the United States and United Kingdom talks on possible toughening of sanctions on Russia Sunday. He stated “If the US opts to further toughen sanctions in defiance of common sense and in disregard of its experience that has already been quite painful for them, then we will find measures in our toolbox that will have a painful impact, particularly in terms of America’s positioning in the world.”

Later on Wednesday, Russia’s lower house of Parliament voted in a bill to suspend the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement with the United States, employing the Vienna Convention. A reported 445 voted in favor, with one abstention from the 450-member Russian State Duma. Russia cited the decision and bill to “hostile actions” by the United States.

The bill passed will “suspend the agreement between the Russian and the US governments on the disposition of plutonium, designated as plutonium no longer required for defense purposes, its use and cooperation in this field.”