The Kremlin said on Friday that Russia should prepare for the possibility of harsh sanctions from the European Union over the imprisonment of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.
Three European diplomats told Reuters on Thursday that the bloc will likely impose travel bans and asset freezes on allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, possibly this month.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that Moscow should prepare for foreign sanctions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier today that Moscow is ready to cut ties with the bloc if painful economic sanctions are imposed on it.