The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said they will gradually launch retaliatory measures to EU sanctions.

The economic sectoral sanctions of the European Union against Belarus come into force on Friday. 

On the eve, the EU Council officially adopted new restrictive measures against Minsk in response to the escalation of gross violations of human rights in Belarus, aggressive persecution of civil society, democratic opposition, and journalists, as well as in connection with the forced landing of Ryanair in Minsk on May 23, 2021.

"Belarus is not going to silently observe this. In the coming weeks, retaliatory measures, which we have repeatedly announced, will gradually be put into effect," the Belarusian MFA said in a statement.

The ministry noted that "it is high time for European politicians to understand that pressure and sanctions are not the language in which to speak with Belarus." 

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said that the new EU sanctions against Minsk are intended to undermine a sovereign state that is pursuing an independent foreign policy.