Western countries launched a "financial and economic war" against Russia, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said at a government meeting with President Vladimir Putin (broadcast by RBC).
“The West has declared a default on its financial obligations to Russia, has frozen our gold and foreign exchange reserves,” the HEAD of the Ministry of Finance said.
He added that Western countries "by all means" are trying to restrict foreign trade and EXPORT of goods to Russia. These measures, according to the minister, are detrimental to world trade.
“Western countries are trying to create a shortage of everyday imported goods in our country, they are forcing the closure of successfully operating enterprises with foreign capital,” Siluanov said.
In this situation, he called the stabilization of the financial system the priority of the authorities. The minister listed the steps taken for this: measures to prevent the outflow of capital from the country, as well as the establishment of a special procedure for servicing external debts.