Proposed U.S. sanctions to target Russian defense industry - Kremlin aide
MOSCOW. Dec 17 (Interfax) - The next set of proposed anti-Russian sanctions approved by the U.S. Congress would mainly target Russia's defense industry, the Russian president's arms trade assistant said on Wednesday.
"You will be aware that Congress has come up with one more set of sanctions, and it's us, Rosoboronexport, those who work with us that are the target of 99.9% of them," Vladimir Kozhin said during an award ceremony for the Golden Idea prize, conferred on defense enterprises for the most successful exports.
"What you invent and make goes over into our armed forces, to our partners and to our allies, and enables us to work and behave as a country that see ourselves as being today - to be an independent, powerful, sovereign country," he said in addressing military industry executives present at the event.
It is the successes of its defense industry that can make Russia "sure not only of its today but also of its tomorrow," Kozhin said. "This confidence is based on your work."
There are countries that "just can't bear seeing" Russian achievements. This, for instance, explains "New Year's greetings from [U.S. President Barack] Obama," Kozhin said.