WASHINGTON, February 23. /TASS/. The United States’ new anti-Russian sanctions are a cynical attempt to interfere in Russia’s internal affairs and coerce it into abandoning the protection of its national interests, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said in a statement, released by the embassy’s press service.

"The new illegitimate restrictions are another blatant and cynical attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation. To force us to abandon the protection of fundamental national interests. To sow discord in Russian society on the eve of a key moment for any democratic country - presidential elections," he said.

Antonov pointed out that the new round of sanctions was not a surprise, since the US officials "announced an anti-Russian attack in advance with the obvious goal of fueling the Russophobic information hype."

According to the diplomat, "In any case, it was clear to us beforehand that the [US] administration would not miss the anniversary of the special military operation, as well as the so-called ‘Euromaidan’ in Kiev," and moreover "it would throw in - for greater propaganda effect - restrictions due to the death of [Alexey] Navalny."

"Doesn’t Washington realize that sanctions won’t take us down? Despite a record number of barriers and restrictions, the Russian economy is growing much faster than that of many Western European countries. And that’s according to the statistics of the Bretton Woods institutions," the Russian ambassador emphasized.