MOSCOW, April 25. /TASS/. A pause in Russia’s relations with the Western countries may turn out to be useful in terms of "parting with illusions," Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Ivanov said at a meeting of the ad hoc commission of the Federation Council on the protection of state sovereignty and prevention of interference in Russia’s internal affairs.

"We believe that a pause in relations with the West may be useful for parting with illusions regarding the degree of its civilization," Ivanov said.

"Neither the sanctions, nor the reckless anti-Russian campaign in the information space, nor any other type of pressure will be able to make us give up our dignity and a nationally oriented foreign policy," Ivanov said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 launched a special military operation in Ukraine following a request for help from the leaders of the two Donbass republics. After that the United States, the European Union, Britain and a number of other countries imposed sanctions on a number of Russian individuals and legal entities.