UNIAN
The possible disconnecting of Russian banks from the SWIFT international payment system because of Moscow’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine will not force the Russian government to change its foreign policy, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said on Russian television’s Russia 1 channel on Sunday, according to the Echo of Moscow radio station.
"I hope [the disconnection of SWIFT] will not happen. These are actions that are not associated with a reasonable reaction to the conflict. Moreover, it is impossible to force us to take the actions that our Western partners want to see from us," Shuvalov said.
"If there is no SWIFT system, we will insist all the more that we are in the right," he said.
However, Shuvalov warned of tough responses from Moscow to those countries that imposed sanctions against Russia.
"Of course, we want to threaten, to hurt those who impose these sanctions. But sometimes you have to hold back," he said.