Western sanctions may last for decades: Russian minister tells newspaper

Western sanctions over Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis are likely to last "for a very long time", possibly decades, Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev told Vedomosti newspaper.

"When a U.S. law is passed it is very hard to change it afterwards - looks like it will be in place for decades," Ulyukayev said in an interview published on Thursday.

Russia's economy is heading for recession, dragged lower by sanctions imposed by the West over Ukraine and weak oil prices, a cornerstone of state revenues. The rouble has lost more than 45 per cent against the dollar since the start of the year.

Ulyukayev said a lack of structural reform of the economy had partly set Russia up for "the perfect storm".

He added that if there were no sanctions, no falling oil prices and if "we had not done some foolish things" which he did not elaborate on, the Russian economy could show annual growth of between 2.5 and 3 per cent.

He added that sanctions may become tougher next year with the situation on the oil markets worsening further.

"The situation is so hard to predict that we cannot be prepared for its changes in the future ... How should we behave then? Write one more stress-scenario in addition to (the oil price at) US$60 (S$79) (per barrel)? Let's do it for $40, $20 and $10," he said ironically.