Russia on Wednesday warned that the European Union's proposed new round of sanctions, including a delay in adjusting the Russian oil price cap, will not achieve their stated goals but will instead harm the EU's own economic interests.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the remarks at a press conference in Moscow in response to the EU's newly unveiled 21st package of sanctions against the country.
"The new restrictive measures are increasingly extraterritorial in nature and aimed squarely at disrupting Russia's economic ties with its main and closest partners," Zakharova said.
"These restrictions destabilize global energy, food, and raw materials markets, disrupt industrial supply chains, and harm the EU's own interests," she added.
Zakharova stressed that Russia firmly condemns all types of unilateral illegal coercive measures, and vowed that Russia would respond to the new sanctions with robust countermeasures.
The EU is reportedly seeking to convince G7 members to postpone a scheduled increase in the price cap on Russian oil.
According to a report by the Financial Times on Tuesday citing sources, the EU hopes to prevent Russia from gaining any benefit from rising global crude oil prices.
The oil price cap mechanism, first introduced in 2022 by the EU, G7 nations, and Australia, is typically adjusted periodically based on market conditions.
The next adjustment was originally set for July 15 this year.
Under current international crude oil prices, the cap on Russian oil would rise from its current level of 44.1 U.S. dollars per barrel to at least 65 U.S. dollars per barrel. The EU has reportedly asked Canada, the United Kingdom, and other allies to delay the adjustment.
On Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the 21st round of EU sanctions against Russia had been submitted to member states, with a key provision to suspend the automatic adjustment mechanism of the oil price cap until next January.
Russia warns new EU sanctions will backfire
