Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that the Kremlin was ready to break off relations with the European Union if the EU continues imposing sanctions over the jailing of Alexei Navalny. The Kremlin later rolled back its stance.
The statement was made by the head of the Russian MFA in an interview during the program "Nightingale. Live", a fragment of which was published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"Are we heading towards a break with the EU?" Lavrov was asked.
The Minister responded that Russia was ready to do so in the event of sanctions being imposed in areas that create risks for Russia's economy.
"We proceed from the fact that we're ready [for that]. In the event that we again see sanctions imposed in some sectors that create risks for our economy, including in the most sensitive spheres," Lavrov said. "We don't want to isolate ourselves from global life, but we have to be ready for that. If you want peace then prepare for war," he added.
The full interview is due to be released later on Friday.
Later, Russia retreated its statement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the reporters that Lavrov's comments had been taken out of context. According to Peskov, Russia wants to develop relations with Brussels, at the same time being prepared for the worst. He blamed mass media for publishing a "sensational headline" without context. When asked if breaking off relations with the EU was an option in the future, he Peskov responded that Russia must "of course" be prepared to take such steps if it was hit with "extremely destructive" moves that damaged its infrastructure. Peskov said Moscow needed to be ready to replace any of its vital infrastructures if it is deprived of necessary elements.
According to the DW news agency, earlier on Friday, Russian permanent representative to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, said Russia-EU talks would continue and that Borrell's Moscow trip was a positive sign of a willingness to engage.
As was earlier reported by "Apostrophe", the sanctions imposed on Russia do not have a clearly articulated mechanism of the influence on the Russian economy. However, the political factors of these restrictions have a greater influence than the restrictions themselves.