Lavrov said Russia is ready to sever ties with the EU in case of new sanctions

"We are ready for this", - Lavrov said, answering a journalist's question about Moscow's reaction to the new sanctions against the Russian Federation being discussed in the EU. He added that the EU has more than once introduced sanctions that "created risks for the Russian economy, including in its most sensitive areas". “We do not want to isolate ourselves from the world, but we need to be ready for this. If you want peace, prepare for war”, - added Lavrov.

Later, the Russian Foreign Ministry commented on Lavrov's statement. They explained that Russia would be ready to break off economic relations with the EU if this break is initiated by the European Union. The Foreign Ministry added that, for its part, Moscow is ready for equal and mutually respectful cooperation with Brussels, RIA Novosti writes.

The minister's statement about the break in relations was also commented on by the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov. He explained that Russia does not want to break off relations with Europe, but if the EU follows this path, Russia is ready for such a development of events.

It's worth reminding that in early February, Lavrov met in Moscow with the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell, who noted that relations between the country and the union are currently at the lowest level. The EU does not rule out new sanctions against the Russian Federation after the arrest of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Then Lavrov commented that for Russia the EU remains not the most reliable partner, at least at this stage. Then he called the introduction of new sanctions a personal matter of the European Union.