A high-ranking Russian official issued a warning to the international community, saying that the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from the book of Revelation in the bible's New Testament have already started their trip as Russia's invasion of Ukraine reaches 100 days.
Russian Security County Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said in a recent interview that "one can believe that the horsemen of the Apocalypse are already on their way and all hope is in Almighty God," the Russian-state run news agency TASS reported.
Medvedev added that things have already been set in motion, "however, one can still try to tone down this international situation."
TASS reported that Medvedev's comments during an interview with Al Jazeera TV were in response to one of his Telegram posts in May in which he mentioned 10 consequences of Russian sanctions that have been put in place throughout the world since the invasion began.
The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday announced a new series of sanctions against Russia, including one that targeted the yacht Russian President Vladimir Putin used to meet with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
In February, the U.S. and allies in Europe agreed to remove certain Russian banks from the SWIFT banking system. In another blow to Russia's economy, in March, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a ban on Russian oil in the country.
Also in March, the U.S. and the U.K. announced sanctions on more than 20 Russian tech and media companies as well as 13 individuals.
Sanctions have had a negative impact on Russia's economy. During the first three months of the year, it experienced slower than expected economic growth. In April, the U.K. said it believed Russian would suffer its deepest recession since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
Despite Medvedev's warning, he said all is not lost.
"We are ready to have a dialogue on all issues, but a respectful one that takes into account our sovereignty, our concerns, and is aimed at creating indivisible security; not in the interests of individual countries, but indivisible security," he said, according to TASS.
"And then these 10 consequences can be reduced—if we have the right discussions, if we negotiate in the right way."
Newsweek reached out to the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministries for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.