Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (Photo: TASS)

Lavrov pointed out that Russia has faced sanctions before. The experience of the past decades is helping it succeed in overcoming the current challenge, and Russia will continue to follow its own course regardless of the obstacles. 

Lavrov said Russia is not isolated on the international stage. It has many friends all over the world, because Russia has consistently promoted relations with countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Lavrov said Moscow does not seek to wall itself off from its business partners in Europe and North America. Russia has never chosen, he said, to cut mutually beneficial ties.