Putin orders retaliation against Western sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that he has ordered the government to think over retaliatory measures against Western sanctions, the media reported.

"Political tools of pressure on the economy are unacceptable and contradict all norms and rules. The Russian government has already proposed a number of measures in retaliation to the so-called sanctions by some countries," Putin said at a working meeting with the acting governor of the Voronezh region, south of Moscow, Xinhua reported.

The president noted that Russia's response to Western sanctions should be "accurate", stressing that it is necessary to take into account the interests of both Russian manufacturers and consumers.

Putin added that producers in various countries should compete equally in order to meet the interests of national security and rules of the World Trade Organisation.

The European Union (EU) sanctions on Moscow took effect Friday, which include a package of punitive measures targeting Russia's finance, defence and energy sectors. The US and Japan also announced new sanctions against Russia over its alleged role in the current Ukrainian turmoil and the downing of a Malaysian passenger plane, which killed 298 people on board.

Russia accused the EU of being manipulated by "Washington's dictation", and slammed the US sanctions as "destructive and short-sighted". The consultations between Russian and Japanese deputy foreign ministers were postponed Tuesday by Moscow due to Japan's further sanctions.