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| Viktor Tatarintsev Facebook |
STOCKHOLM: Russia's outspoken envoy to Sweden told a Swedish newspaper that Moscow "doesn't give a sh..t" about the threat of Western sanctions if it invades Ukraine.
"Excuse my language, but we don't give a sh..t about all their sanctions," Viktor Tatarintsev said in an interview published late Saturday on the Aftonbladet website.
"We've already had so many sanctions, and they've had a great effect on our economy and agriculture," said the experienced diplomat, who is fluent in Swedish and has served four times in the Scandinavian country.
"We have become more self-sufficient and have increased our exports. We don't have Italian or Swiss cheeses, but we've figured out how to manufacture Russian cheeses that are just as wonderful using Italian and Swiss recipes ", he explained.
"New sanctions aren't good, but they're not as horrible as the West makes them out to be," he continued.
Tatarintsev said that the West could not comprehend Russian mentality."The more the West pushes Russia, the more Russia pulls back," he said.
The diplomat's remarks came as Western nations worry that Russia is planning an invasion of Ukraine after practically encircling its western neighbour with over 100,000 troops.
An all-out invasion might start "any day," according to Washington.
Moscow, according to Tatarintsev, is attempting to avert a conflict.
"That is the most earnest wish of our political leadership. War is the last thing on Russians' minds."