Moscow will not comply with the European Union’s attempts regarding visas and will not make decisions that harm its national interests.

Axar.az reports that Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this while commenting on the ban imposed on Russian citizens for Schengen visas.

“Many of their (EU’s) decisions are intended to push us toward certain countermeasures, perhaps even mirror actions. Such steps could ultimately harm us and our country. They should not expect this to happen. Therefore, there will be countermeasures. However, these responses will primarily take our national interests into account,” Zakharova said.

The official added that many decisions by Western countries are initially announced as tests to gauge the reaction of the Russian people.