Russia can weather possible new U.S. sanctions, minister says

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has the tools to shield its economy from possible new U.S. sanctions, and the central bank and finance ministry have already created a buffer to protect the country's banks, the Russian finance minister said on Thursday.

U.S. Republican and Democratic senators on Wednesday introduced a bill seeking to punish Russia for meddling in U.S. elections and for its aggression in Ukraine by imposing sanctions on its banking, energy and foreign debt.

(Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya and Katya Golubkova; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Larry King)