Moscow, 13 January 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The Kremlin has criticized newly-imposed US sanctions as an attempt to undermine the positions of Russian companies with competition-distorting regulations.

"At the same time, such decisions must of course also lead to a certain destabilization of the international energy and oil markets," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

Moscow would do everything to minimize the damage to its own economy, he said.

Peskov is convinced that Moscow can also withstand the latest round of sanctions. He claimed it is often impossible to undo long-established energy ties, saying if an obstacle is created in one place, then alternatives will emerge in another.

The US imposed further sanctions on the Russian energy sector last week in response to Moscow's continuing war against Ukraine.

The oil companies Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, as well as 183 tankers suspected of belonging to Russia's so-called shadow fleet, will be subject to restrictions. These are ships that Russia uses to circumvent existing sanctions on oil transport.

The Russian nuclear company Rosatom is also affected by the US sanctions.

MIA file photo