Andrei Belousov
Andrei Belousov, the Kremlin's top economic adviser
Russia has drafted a plan in response to Western sanctions, which includes various measures, from the softest to the toughest, said Russian Presidential Aide Andrei Belousov.

"We certainly do have a plan. It was devised back when we had just learnt or felt that sanctions were possible," he said in an interview with the Vesti V Subbotu (News on Saturday) program host Sergei Brilev.

At the same time he stressed that disclosing retaliatory measures would be the same as disclosing "the General Staff's operative plans in case of a war."

"I cannot tell you simply what is in it. But what I can tell you is that (it extends) to all levels, possible levels of sanctions, starting from the softest and ending with the toughest," Belousov said.

When asked to elaborate, the presidential aide said: "Of the Iranian type, yes, a certain set of actions has been developed, which could be - I want to stress - could be introduced, could take effect. But that does not mean at all that it will be applied."

In his view, a political decision needs to be made in each particular case.

"The president said there can be no automatism here. The government will decide the extent to which these measures should be introduced," he said.

"In fact, if things go too far, I would say there is a whole host of financial services that we can also substitute. Bankers will only say thanks to us," he said.