Russia warned it may consider taking retaliatory measures if the West continues with its “hysterical” policy of sanctions against Moscow.

Russia warned it may consider taking retaliatory measures if the West continues with its “hysterical” policy of sanctions against Moscow.

“If the West continues these absolutely non-professional hysterical policies, we would have to think what we can do in return,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Bloomberg television on Wednesday.

The top Russian diplomat noted that any new sanctions by the United States and the European Union (EU) would only harden Russia’s stance toward the current turmoil in Ukraine.

However, he stressed that Moscow is not looking for “confrontations,” adding that threats coming from Washington and Brussels stem from the Western governments’ “desire to get revenge.”

The US and the EU accuse Russia of destabilizing Ukraine. They have slapped a number of sanctions against Russian and pro-Russia figures.

Russia, however, rejects the accusation, saying the pro-Russia protests in Ukraine began spontaneously Ukraine against the new government in Kiev.

A total of 61 Russians and Ukrainians have been targeted by EU visa bans and asset freezes since almost two months ago, when Crimea declared independence from Ukraine and subsequently joined the Russian Federation.