MOSCOW – Russia has decided to give a hard hitting and painful response toUS sanctions.

Valentina Matvienko, the speaker of the Russian upper house of parliament,said on Wednesday that Moscow’s response to U.S. sanctions will be targetedand painful, Russian news agencies reported.

The United States this month added several Russian firms and officials to asanctions blacklist in response to what it said were the Kremlin’s “malignactivities”. Moscow says those sanctions are unlawful and has warned thatit will retaliate.

“No one should be under any illusions,” Matvienko, who is closely alignedwith the Kremlin, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

“Russia’s response to the sanctions, our so-called counter-sanctions, willbe precise, painful, and without question sensitive for exactly thosecountries that imposed them (the sanctions) on Russia,” she was quoted assaying.

“Sanctions are a double-edged sword and those who impose them shouldunderstand that sanctions against countries, especially those like Russia,will carry with them risks of serious consequences for those who imposethem.”