MOSCOW, October 7 (RAPSI) - Acting Head of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov has warned that if western countries continue with threats and sanctions against the republic, the regional officials may ban western diplomats from entering the peninsula, RIA Novosti reports Tuesday.

“If they impose sanctions, we will do the same with respect to the entry of foreign diplomats to Crimea. They will be considered personas non-grata,” Aksyonov said.

He says he has the impression that particular western leaders are set on causing harm to Crimea or Russia by any means possible.

The relations between Russia and the West have gone sour because of the situation in Ukraine. After Russia annexed Crimea and the military operation began in southeastern Ukraine, the US and the EU imposed a number of restrictions against companies, banks and entire sectors of the Russian economy, including the oil industry.

The sanctions have affected companies in Crimea and Sevastopol. They include the Kerch Ferry Company, the Universal-Avia state-run company, the Nizhnyaya Oreanda spa resort, the Azov Liquor and Spirits Plant, the Sevastopol Commercial Sea Port, the Kerch Commercial Sea Port, the Massandra National Production Association, the Magarych Agricultural Company and the Novy Svet Winery.

The most recent sanctions against Russia were introduced on September 12. Russia responded with limiting the imports of farming produce from the US, the EU, Canada, Australia and Norway.