The West will look high and low for new reasons to impose sanctions on Russia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said at the Valdai Discussion Club’s expert discussion.
The diplomat stressed that new excuses can be very "different and dreadful in their foolishness."
"There will certainly be an escalation, because we are an unyielding partner. In their eyes, we are obstinate and show no hope whatsoever that we going to be pliable to their methods," TASS cited Pankin as saying.
He also noted a very clear and very tense standoff in various markets and the desire to elbow out rivals.
"We will continue to confidently do what we have been doing, that is, diversifying the energy sector and searching for partners. If we lose some markets, we will find others. We will be looking for alternative options," the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister concluded.
