Medvedev clarifies new sanctions against Ukraine

The countersanctions against Ukraine that President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian government to elaborate will be endorsed shortly, and relevant resolutions have been drafted, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

"Proposals in fulfillment of this order will be prepared very soon. I already have drafts of several government resolutions. They will impose sanctions on persons who harm the Russian Federation," Interfax cited the PM as saying.

According to him, the countermeasures against Ukraine will not harm average Ukrainians.

"Neither the order nor the government resolutions will apply to Ukrainians as a whole. This cannot happen; we feel absolutely amicable towards the people of Ukraine," Medvedev said when asked whether the countersanctions will affect average Ukrainians.

At the same time, he added that "certain citizens who are damaging Russia's interests and acting to the detriment of our country will fall under these resolutions."

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to introduce special economic measures against Ukraine.