Western sanctions won't sway Kremlin, says Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev

It is "foolish" to believe thatWesternsanctionsagainst Russian businesses could have any effect on the Moscow government, Russian ex-presidentand deputy head of security council DmitryMedvedevwas quoted as saying on Friday.

Thesanctionswill only consolidate the Russian society and not cause popular discontent with the authorities,MedvedevtoldRussia'sRIA news agency in an interview.

The West has imposed an array ofsanctionson Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, but one month into the war, theKremlinsaysit will continue the assault until it accomplishes its goals of Ukraine's "demilitarisation and denazification".

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Some of thesanctionshave specifically targeted billionaire businessmen believed to be close toPresidentVladimir Putin.

"Let us ask ourselves: can any of these major businessmen have even the tiniest quantum of influence of the position of the country's leadership?"Medvedevsaid.

"I openly tell you: no, no way."

Medvedevsaid there are several grounds under which Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons, including an attack on the country or encroachment on infrastructure as a result of whichRussia'snuclear deterrent forces would be paralysed.

That demonstratedRussia's"determination to defend the independence, sovereignty of our country, not to give anyone a reason to doubt even the slightest that we are ready to give a worthy response to any infringement on our country, on its independence," he said.

However, negotiations - even in the most difficult situations such as those around Ukraine - are Moscow's preferred path to proceed, he added.

Medvedevsaid opinion polls showed three-quarters of Russians supported theKremlin's decision to carry out a military operation in Ukraine and even more supportedPresidentVladimir Putin.

While downplaying the economic impact ofsanctions,Medvedevsaid the Russian government will have to find "adequate solutions" on its own to spur the development of the aircraft, automotive and IT industries, among others.

"Now, it will be more difficult to tackle those issues, but on the other hand, we cannot rely on anyone,"Medvedevsaid. "In this case, we will have to solve those problems ourselves."

He lashed out at those Russians who spoke against the invasion while staying outside Russia.

"You can be dissatisfied with some of the authorities' decisions, criticise the authorities - this is normal," he said.

"But you cannot take a stand against the state in such a difficult situation, because this is treason."

Thousands of people were earlier this month detained at Russia-wide protests against Putin's invasion of Ukraine, according to an independent protest monitoring group.

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