Russian weapons leading manufacturer ridicules recent EU sanctions

(MENAFN) Russian defense giant Rostec has ridiculed the European Union's newest sanctions, dismissing them as ineffective and labeling the EU “a champion of meaningless measures.”

The comments came after the European Council approved its 17th sanctions package on Tuesday, targeting additional Russian individuals and entities, including Stan, a machine tool manufacturer under Rostec’s umbrella.

In a statement to RIA Novosti, Rostec mocked the West’s continued attempts to hinder Russian industry, saying, “If Russia holds the record for the number of sanctions imposed, the EU certainly leads in adopting ineffective ones.” The company added that such efforts would not yield any results.

Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Western nations have imposed a wide range of sanctions against Russia, including oil export bans, financial restrictions, and the freezing of around $300 billion in Russian assets.

Moscow has consistently denounced these measures as unlawful and counterproductive. In March, President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia has faced over 28,000 sanctions—more than any other country—arguing that rather than weakening Russia, the sanctions have made its economy stronger and more self-reliant.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, a staunch opponent of the Kremlin, hinted that more sanctions are being prepared. In parallel, the UK introduced its own measures on Tuesday, targeting institutions such as the St. Petersburg Currency Exchange and Russia’s state deposit insurance agency to disrupt Moscow’s financial operations.

The new EU and UK sanctions come just a day after a phone call between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Following the conversation, Trump stated that the US is not looking to impose further sanctions on Russia, warning that doing so could undermine ongoing peace negotiations related to Ukraine.

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