In response to the new round of sanctions placed on Russia by the United States, Russia has responded with a bellicose statement from their Prime Minister and a bizarre renaissance-fair-set-to-metal music hype video on Twitter.

Following President Trump’s decision to sign the sanctions bill sent to him from Congress, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev took to Twitter to decry Trump’s ‘total weakness’ by conceding to Congress’ demands for new sanctions by “handing over executive power to Congress in the most humiliating way.” Medvedev’s insult to Trump via Twitter appears to be a well-placed shot at the social media-savvy President’s sense of pride.

Trump released a set of statements to coincide with the new sanctions, giving the appearance that he was only begrudgingly complying with Congress’ demands. Saying the “bill remains seriously flawed” because it “encroaches on the executive branch’s authority to negotiate. Congress could not even negotiate a healthcare bill after seven years of talking,”

Nonetheless, Trump says he is “signing the bill for the sake of national unity,” and “we hope there will be cooperation between our two countries on major global issues so these sanctions will no longer be necessary.”

On Facebook, Medvedev said Trump’s decision “ends hopes for improving our relations with the new US administration,” and “it is a declaration of a full-fledged economic war on Russia.”

But the most curious action from Russia has to be the video they posted on the official Russia Twitter page. Posted with the tag “Whoever comes to us with #sanctions, from sanctions will perish. We dedicate this video to those who try to hurt us with new sanctions!” it is clearly a threat to the United States, implying that the U.S. will perish as a result of their decision to institute sanctions on Russia. One would think an accompanying video of such a statement would include tanks, missiles, military aircraft, and tough looking soldiers firing automatic weapons. However, one would be wrong.

The video the Russians chose to carry their threat forward is three and a half minutes of Russian children dancing, men crafting tools and implements, and jousting, all set to Russian metal music. It feels like a LARP (live action role playing) event in a city park, and to the average American will appear in no way to be threatening. If anything, the viewer is left wondering who is being allowed to run the official Russian Twitter page.

Watch the video here:

Featured image courtesy of Wikipedia