Russia will have to contend with sanctions "for the foreseeable future" as the continuing conflict in Ukraine hinders its prospects for regaining an investment grade rating, according to Moody's Investors Service. Moody's, which in February joined Standard & Poor's in cutting the country's debt to junk, is "highly unlikely" to raise Russia to investment grade within the next 12 to 18 months, Kristin Lindow, senior vice president at the rating company, said in an interview on Friday in London. Moody's rates the country Ba1, the highest speculative level, with a negative outlook.