Russia preparing for new round of economic sanctions, says minister

The Russian government is studying ways of dealing with possible foreseeable limitations on the export of oil because of a new round of sanctions, the Minister of Economic Development of Russia has told the BBC.

Alexei Ulyukayev acknowledged that the decline in energy prices could seriously affect ordinary people and companies in Russia.

But he told BBC Russian Service reporter Olga Ivshina that the budget would not be seriously hurt, as the decline in oil prices was balanced by the weakening rouble.