ST. PETERSBURG, April 24./ITAR-TASS/. Economic sanctions which other countries imposed on Russia has several pluses for Russia, including relief of the country’s economy from excessive impact of offshore companies and creation of more favourable conditions for business in Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a media forum in the northern Russian capital city on Thursday.

“They are (economic sanctions) not critical, not at all,” the president noted.

March 17, the USA has published the black list of Russian and Ukrainian officials. The sanctions refer to freezing of the officials’ assets in the USA and ban for the Americans from entering into business contacts with people from the sanctions list.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama threatened with further sanctions against Russia, if it “continues interfering with Ukraine’s affairs”.