Kremlin: Russia decision on counter-sanctions will hinge on national interests

© Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov

Russia will decide on the extension of its counter-sanctions proceeding from its national interests, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

"We're not discussing these issues and the Russian Federation will do what meets its national interests with regard to retaliatory steps," the spokesman said in reply to a question about whether Moscow would extend its counter-sanctions in response to the West's intention to keep its restrictions until the Minsk accords are met in full.

"We have already said the topic of sanctions is not the theme which is on our agenda. We prefer after all to deal with constructive issues in our agenda rather than such destructive topics as sanctions rhetoric," the presidential spokesman said.

The European Union summit made a political decision to support sanctions against the Russian Federation until the Minsk agreements are implemented in full, European Council President Donald Tusk said Thursday.

"The European Council agreed that the duration of economic sanctions will be clearly linked to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements, bearing in mind that this is only foreseen by the end of 2015," he said.