Russia plans to boost cooperation with countries other than the United States and Europe in an effort to rebuke economic sanctions against it, the Kremlin said on Monday.

After the West's ban on working with some Russian banks and Russian energy firms, Russia fought back by banning imports of all food from the West for a year.

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Now the Kremlin is saying that their status as a World Trade Organization member allows them not only to do business elsewhere, but to call on the United States and Europe to justify their actions.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a statement on Monday "As a WTO member, Russia will use all possibilities envisaged by the organization for resisting [the sanctions] and protecting its positions."

He continued that the US is trigger-happy with sanctions, banning "nearly every action Russia undertakes," but that despite the sanctions Russia will move forward and cooperate with other countries.

Peskov declined to comment on the suggestion of an "oil-for-goods" deal with Iran, however such a deal is a possibility with any country. Vladimir Putin signed an oil deal with "old and reliable partner" ExxonMobil on Aug 9 to begin drilling a $700 million Arctic offshore oil well.

Russia also plans to save face internationally by giving humanitarian aid to civilians affected by the Ukraine crisis in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. Peskov said the work to getting aid into Ukraine is "intense".

A European Union official said that there is a possibility the EU will file a lawsuit to the WTO about Russia's food import ban.

Russia's food import ban includes the gamut: beef, pork, poultry, fish, cheese, fruit, vegetables, and dairy products from Australia, Canada, members of the European Union, the United States, and Norway in response to the West's disapproval and sanctions regarding the Ukraine crisis.

TagsRussia, Sanctions, Russia sanctions, sanctions against Russia, European Union, Ban, food ban