MOSCOW, October 23. /TASS/. Russia will not be seeking ‘good graces’ from the United States or the European Union to have sanctions imposed on it over Ukraine lifted, as Western countries will sooner or later realize that they hit their own interests, the Russian Federation Council upper house's speaker said on Friday.
"Russia should not and will not be seeking to get into graces of Washington or Brussels. On the contrary, Western states will have to abandon sanctions sooner or later as an illegitimate instrument that among other things affects their own interests," Valentina Matviyenko said in an interview with Argumenty i Fakty (Arguments and Facts) weekly.
"Imposition of sanctions is a measure that is wholly illegitimate, inacceptable and besides useless," she said, marking Russia’s fundamental stance on the issue.
The speaker cited the example of Cuba that "for several decades lived under US sanctions, but refused to sacrifice its principles". "We all know how the story ended," Matviyenko added.
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"It is highly illusory and on the wrong side of common sense" to believe that it is possible to "use the language of force or coercion," in speaking with Russia, she added.
"We will keep acting proceeding from our national interests, contributing to the strengthening of stability and security in the world, remaining fully committed to the principles and rules of international law," the speaker added.
For incorporation of Crimea after last year’s coup in Ukraine, Russia came under sanctions on the part of the United States and many European countries. The restrictive measures were soon intensified following Western and Ukrainian claims that Russia supported militias in self-proclaimed republics in Ukraine’s southeast and was involved in destabilization of Ukraine.
As countermeasures, Russia imposed on August 6, 2014 a one-year ban on imports of beef, pork, poultry, fish, cheeses, fruit, vegetables and dairy products from Australia, Canada, the European Union, the United States and Norway.