OREANDA-NEWS. The international rating agency Fitch believes that the new sanctions could have a negative impact on the Russian economy. The agency did not include a Russian attack on Ukraine in its base scenario, Kommersant writes, citing a Fitch press release.

“Tensions around Ukraine have increased the risk of conflict and more severe sanctions, although our base case is still no full-scale invasion. Sanctions are likely to be calibrated depending on the scale of any Russian actions,” the agency said in a statement.

It is noted that Russia's rating at the level of "BBB" with a stable outlook is constrained by existing sanctions and the prospect of their expansion, which will further affect the dynamics of GDP, financial flexibility and prospects for structural improvements.

The agency believes that in the event of an escalation in Ukraine, the most likely would be a ban on transactions with the secondary state debt of Russia, as well as sanctions against high-ranking Russian officials, government agencies and "supporters of Vladimir Putin."

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said that Moscow does not consider it necessary to pay attention to Washington's ideas about anti-Russian sanctions.