Foreign Ministry spokesman Zakharova on EU demand € 290 billion: our country was punished sadomasochistically
Maria Zakharova. Photo: Globallookpress.com
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova announced the sadomasochism of the European Union (EU) after demanding that Russia pay € 290 billion in a dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO). She recalled the EU sanctions, which led to import substitution, in her Telegram channel.
Now we know how much the European Union has estimated the stupidity and lack of independence of its own political elites. Stupidity, because import substitution was a response to EU sanctions against Russia. Brussels told for a long time that our country was “severely punished”. What's “tough” – sadomasochistic
Maria ZakharovaRepresentative of the Russian Foreign Ministry
She also explained her words about the lack of independence of the EU political elites. Zakharova recalled that US President Joe Biden, who served as vice president in 2014, said during a speech at Harvard University that European countries were not ready to impose sanctions against Russia in connection with the events in Ukraine. The American leader also said that Barack Obama had to put Europe in a difficult position and “force it to act against Russia, despite the risk of economic damage to himself.”
The EU countries agreed to this only under strong pressure from Washington, and this pressure was due to America's desire to inflict as much damage on the Russian economy as possible, Joe Biden stressed, noting that it was the efforts of the White House that allowed the United States and the EU to unite. Didn't add, however, how much Brussels will pay for it
Maria ZakharovaRepresentative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Refutation of the Ministry of Economic Development
On December 26, the Ministry of Economic Development denied information that the European Union is demanding € 290 billion from Russia in a dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
290,000,000,000 euros is the EU's assessment of the Russian procurement market
According to the ministry, the information is unreliable, it is only about the requirement to cancel or modify certain measures of Russia, which the EU considers to violate the rules of the WTO.
The EU estimates the Russian procurement market at € 290 billion, not the damage caused by the EU
Ministry of Economic Development
EU “Big Moral Trouble”
Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov commented on the demands of the European Union, stating the EU's big moral problems.
They must be joking! The European Union, which has imposed economic sanctions against Russia, is seeking compensation from Russia for its countermeasures (import substitution program). He accuses Moscow of “illegal discrimination” of European goods! Can you believe it? Big moral problems
Mikhail UlyanovPost Representative of the Russian Federation to International Organizations in Vienna
Also, the European Union's claim to Russia was assessed by the Federation Council (SF). Sergei Tsekov, a member of the international committee of the Federation Council, said that the EU has no moral and legal right to demand from the Russian authorities to compensate it for the damage caused by the import substitution policy, which was introduced in response to European sanctions.
If, within the framework of the sanctions policy, they refused to supply us with products, we have the right to manufacture them ourselves.
Sergey TsekovMember of the International Committee of the Federation Council
The senator proposed that the EU first pay about a trillion dollars in compensation for the sanctions it imposed.
EU requirement
On December 26, it was reported that the European Union demanded from Russia almost 300 billion euros for the import substitution policy. As they say in Europe, Russia “illegally discriminated” European goods for such an amount. The EU also indicated that such restrictions put foreign manufacturers in economically less favorable conditions and deprive them of the possibility of fair competition.
On December 22, similar accusations were made by the United States. US trade representative Catherine Tai said that Washington sees import substitution and preferences for domestic goods and services as Russia's departure from WTO norms. According to her, the United States decided to work on countermeasures through the WTO and prevent Moscow from developing this direction.
