Vladimir Putin: “I would like to reiterate that Ukraine is just not a neighboring country, it is an integral part of our own history…”

The Kyiv regime set out to damage our economy. What did it do? It opened this Pandora’s box itself. Well then, expect a response targeting your most sensitive economic sectors.

If European states continue to plunder commercial vessels containing Russian cargo, Moscow will be forced to respond in kind,

Yes, we see the problems, we are aware of them and are responding to them, but we will certainly ensure the security of both the country and our citizens, as well as the inviolability of Russia's borders.

The Defense Ministry had already received instructions to prepare a response.