Russia not ruling out imposing precise country-based restrictions on uranium, titanium, nickel exports - Ryabkov

MOSCOW. Sept 16 (Interfax) - Moscow is not ruling out the possibility of introducing precise country-based restrictions on exports of uranium, titanium and nickel, but is weighing all possible consequences of such decision, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday.

"Economic countermeasures in response to the pressure of sanctions could be very varied. The fact that this matter got into the public space is already a signal in itself," Ryabkov told reports in Moscow, answering a relevant question.

"We're weighting all pros and cons, pro et contra, weighing the consequences of it, one cannot act rashly here. The president, the federal executive authorities and the entities in charge of it on a permanent basis will not make any decision in this sector influenced by emotions to regret it later. It is not the approach we completely favor in this sector," Ryabkov said.

"This why we'll see how it goes, but any harsh retaliatory measures cannot be ruled out. At present, the actions of the United States and its Western and not just Western satellites acquired a scope of a total economic aggression as part of the hybrid war against Russia. Therefore, our retaliation will be as harsh as possible too," he said.

"I am not ready say whether these restrictions would be imposed and when, if they are imposed," Ryabkov said.

"But certainly, the entire legal framework in this sector in the form of relevant decree of the government, in the form of decisions of the federal executive authorities already clearly distinguishes the countries of the global majority with which we are working on the mutually beneficial partnership basis from the unfriendly states. Actually, the unfriendly state is a kind of an euphemism which is considerably based on the legal aspect, while, in fact, they are our enemies, and we need to talk harshly with our enemies," he said.