Russia is ready to break with the EU

Moscow. In the event of further EU sanctions, Russia is prepared for a break with the European Union, according to Foreign Minister Sergei Lawrow. "We don't want to isolate ourselves from life in the world, but we have to be prepared for it," said Lawrow in an excerpt from a program by journalist Vladimir Solovyov, which was released on Friday. "If you want peace - prepare for the war," added Lavrow. A little later the Kremlin criticized Lawrow's words.

It is "a big mistake" to publish these statements from the context, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. "We don't want the point. We want to expand relationships with the European Union, but if the European Union goes this way, we are ready," said Peskow.

The EU Foreign Minister wants to discuss further sanctions against Russia in connection with the detention of the Kremlin critic Alexej Navalny on February 22. Due to a poisoning on Nawalny in August, the European Union had already banned entry and ownership against people last year who are suspected of being responsible for Putin's environment.

Nawalny was sentenced to several years in prison in a prisoner last week because he had supposedly violated the probation requirements in a previous criminal proceedings while recovering from the attack in Germany.

should Europe again impose sanctions "that are a risk to our economy (...), then yes," the Russian foreign minister replied to Solovyov's question whether one is heading for a break with Brussels.

Solovyov is considered a influential voice in Kremlin Propaganda-as well as Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the Russian state foreign television station RT, which recently blocked western social networks in Russia.