Russia ‘ready’ for split from European Union if new sanctions imposed for Alexei Navalny imprisonment

Russia is prepared for a split with the European Union if the EU imposes tough, new sanctions amid a dispute over the treatment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the nation’s Foreign Minister has warned.

In response to a question about Moscow’s willingness to rupture links with the EU, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia must increase its self-sufficiency to deal with potential EU sanctions.

“We don’t want to be isolated from international life, but we…