Russia says it's a reliable energy supplier to the West but has other potential partners if Western countries turn elsewhere for oil and natural gas in response to the Ukrainian crisis.
First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov made the comments in Berlin on April 10.
He said that imposing sanctions on Russia wouldn't change President Vladimir Putin's behavior in the way Western countries wanted.
Shuvalov added that the tougher sanctions were, the more united Russian society would become.
Since Russia's annexation of Crimea, the United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on Russian individuals.
Also on April 10, the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen for "zealously reproducing Cold War-era rhetoric."
It also said the alliance employed "double standards" in international politics.
First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov made the comments in Berlin on April 10.
He said that imposing sanctions on Russia wouldn't change President Vladimir Putin's behavior in the way Western countries wanted.
Shuvalov added that the tougher sanctions were, the more united Russian society would become.
Since Russia's annexation of Crimea, the United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on Russian individuals.
Also on April 10, the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen for "zealously reproducing Cold War-era rhetoric."
It also said the alliance employed "double standards" in international politics.
