MOSCOW, April 22 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian government will support areas in the economy that depend on deliveries from abroad and can possibly suffer from sanctions, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday.
“Will we be able to retain certain types of production in conditions of limiting cooperation with foreign partners or even closed markets? [Russia’s] industry, whose development depends on deliveries from other countries, will get the necessary support from the government,” Medvedev said during his annual report before the country’s lower house of parliament.
“We will of course not refuse cooperating with foreign businesses, including businesses in western countries, but we will be ready for unfriendly steps,” Medvedev said.
The prime minister also stressed that over the past few years it has become obvious that Russia can modernize its industries and create high-tech companies on its own.
After Crimea's reunification with Russia on March 18, the US, EU and their allies introduced sanctions against several Russian officials and banks.
G7 countries also threatened Russia with sanctions against a number of economic sectors should the conflict in Ukraine exacerbate.
Russia's Foreign Ministry earlier said that talking to Russia in the language of sanctions was "inappropriate and counterproductive" and warned its Western partners of the "boomerang effect."
