Russia will turn to other markets to minimize impact of any EU economic sanctions

If Europe approves economic sanctions, Russia can minimize the damage by turning to other markets, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said. "The European Union is our most important market today. I will repeat, we will not initiate a reduction in economic ties. That isn't in our interests. We have trade with them totaling $400 billion," Medvedev said in a report to the State Duma on Tuesday.

However, if Russia's Western partners commit such an error, "intensive work on other markets will allow us to minimize the damage," he said.

In order to resolve the task of developing the Far East and attaining economic growth in the regions there, the potential of the Asia-Pacific market must be utilized in full measure, Medvedev said.
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_22/Russia-will-turn-to-other-markets-to-minimize-impact-of-any-EU-economic-sanctions-PM-Medvedev-5204/22/4/14
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• Moscow Won't Let Russia’s Defense Industry to Suffer Over Western Sanctions. - Medvedev

Russia's Defense Industry will not suffer because of the sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday.
"They [Defense companies] will not suffer. Defense sector has always been our national pride, and over the last few years the Defense Industry has got on its feet, and we will not allow it to suffer as a result of someone's unfriendly actions," Medvedev said.

• Russia will increase the export of arms to countries in Africa and Latin America, Medvedev said during his annual report in the lower house of parliament on Tuesday.

The US, EU and their allies introduced sanctions against several Russian officials and banks after the republic of Crimea and Sevastopol joined the Russian Federation as new federal subjects on March 18 following a referendum.

G7 countries also threatened Russia with sanctions against a number of economic sectors in case of further escalation of the situation in Ukraine. Russia's Foreign Ministry earlier said that talking to Russia in the language of sanctions was "inappropriate and counterproductive" and warned its Western partners of the "boomerang effect."
http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140422/189307278/Moscow-Wont-Let-Russias-Defense-Industry-to-Suffer-Over-Western.html
22/4/14