Moscow-Sana
Spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, announced that the list of unfriendly countries announced by Russia are reciprocal measures and not a tool for political activity.
“This list was not a target for Russia in itself, it was not a kind of theoretical basis that has matured, and it is not an instrument of our political activity in principle,” Zakharova was quoted by Sputnik news agency as saying on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, adding that “this was a concrete reaction.” It is clear to actions that we described as unfriendly by a number of countries, a tangible and clear response.”
"We saw some kind of destructive measures that go outside the legal framework...in particular, they were taken again in April of this year by the United States...and appropriate decisions were taken, which then actually found an internal Russian legal form," Zakharova said.
On May 14, the Russian Cabinet approved the list of “unfriendly countries” to Russia, and the list includes two countries, the United States and the Czech Republic.