Russia approves list of countries who took 'unfriendly actions'; UK, US on radar

After weeks of threats and warnings, Russia on Monday approved a list of countries that have taken 'unfriendly actions' against it. list of 17 countries primarily includes United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Cana, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, amongst ors. It also mentions Ukraine and  European Union (EU) which has imposed its 'harshest package of sanctions ever implemented' against Moscow.

When it comes to US, country has slapped sanctions on eight prominent Russian oligarchs with close ties to President Vlimir Putin, cutting m off from US financial system. America has also sanctioned two of Russia’s largest banks, preventing m from getting loans from West. On or hand, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled "largest and most severe package" of sanctions "that Russia has ever seen". It has cracked down on more than 15 individuals and 205 companies in Russia.

Full list of 'unfriendly' countries approved by Russia

1. Australia
2. Cana
3. EU
4. Iceland
5. Liechtenstein
6. Monaco
7. Montenegro
8. New Zealand
9. Norway
10. Taiwan
11. San Marino
12. Singapore
13. South Korea
14. Switzerland
15. Ukraine
16. UK
17. US

Sanctions akin to declaration of war: Putin

Mounted under crippling sanctions, Russia's economy has been plunged into crisis. Nations in West have frozen assets of central bank held overseas and have severed Russian banks from SWIFT international payments systems. Amid economic crisis, central bank last week put a temporary halt on payments and barred coupon payments for foreign investors holding ruble-denominated sovereign debt (OFZs). world now shifts its focus to March 16 when Russia must pay $107 million in coupons across two Eurobonds. 

Rattled by embargoes, Russian President Vlimir Putin, on Saturday, said that any sanctions on Russian Federation were akin to a declaration of war. “se sanctions that are being imposed are akin to a declaration of war but thank God it has not come to that,” Putin said, speaking to a group of women flight attendants at an Aeroflot training centre near Moscow.

Earlier, he h threatened 'tough retaliatory measures' against UK as it warned that it 'will not forget' London's 'sanctions hysteria'. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova hurled threats at UK and its allies, as she said, " sanctions hysteria in which London plays one of leing, if not main, roles, leaves us no choice but to take proportionately tough retaliatory measures. London has me a final choice of open confrontation with Russia.” 

(Image: AP)