Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow sees no need for counter sanctions against the West, after the EU and the US unveiled a new round of sanctions on Russia.
But he also said Russia could reconsider the participation of Western companies in its economy, including energy projects. The Russian president made the statement after a meeting with the leaders of Belarus and Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
Putin also reiterated his accusations that the US is orchestrating the Ukraine crisis. He urged Kiev and anti-government protesters to respect the Geneva agreements, reached on April 17th, and sit down at the negotiation table to defuse the crisis.