MOSCOW, November 22. /TASS/. The Kremlin considers US sanctions against Gazprombank an attempt to impede Russian gas supplies to Europe and plans to take proportional countermeasures, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a TASS inquiry.

"The answer is 'yes' to both parts of your question," the press secretary to the Russian leader said, confirming whether the Kremlin views the US sanctions against Gazprombank as an effort to block Russia’s remaining gas supplies to Europe, and whether Russia will take countermeasures and defend its right to trade with nations that wish to do so.

On Thursday, the US Department of the Treasury published a new sanctions list, which included Gazprombank. Following the introduction of EU sanctions, this bank—previously exempt from restrictions—became the only one through which EU countries could settle payments for Russian gas supplies, and exclusively in rubles.

After the US Department of the Treasury’s decision, Gazprombank clarified that the sanctions would not affect its activities - it continues to serve clients and conduct financial transactions in markets as usual, and all Gazprombank cards, including those issued by foreign payment systems, will continue to work in stores, as well as at ATMs throughout Russia.