MOSCOW, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Wednesday

that Russia's focus on the new U.S. sanctions on the oil sector

was to minimise their impact but that nothing was ruled out in

relation to a possible response from Moscow.

"We are carefully analysing the situation," Kremlin

spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "The point is to take those

measures that would minimise the consequences of these illegal

measures and that would best serve the interests of our country,

first of all, and our companies."

When asked specifically about a possible Russian response to

the U.S. sanctions, Peskov said: "Nothing can be ruled out.

Whatever is best in the interests of our country will be done."

The U.S. Treasury imposed wider sanctions on Russian oil on

Jan. 10, targeting producers Gazprom Neft and

Surgutneftegaz, as well as 183 vessels that have shipped Russian

oil.