Russian President Vladimir Putin today accused the West of colonial arrogance and of trying to overthrow his country with “stupid” sanctions that amount to an economic “lightning war”.
< p>In an aggressive speech at the World Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, the Russian president accused the United States of treating other countries as “colonies”, saying the bleak forecasts for the Russian economy had not been verified, calling Russia's decision “difficult but necessary.” to invade Ukraine.
Addressing the forum, which is being held this year with almost no Western participation, addressing Russia's political and economic elite, he said: “We are a strong people and we can meet any challenge. “Like our ancestors, we will solve any problem. The whole thousand-year history of our country proves that.” Ukraine, which he said caused an “unprecedented” barrage of Western financial sanctions.
As he claimed, the main purpose of the invasion was to defend “our” people in the predominantly Russian-speaking region of Donbass in eastern Ukraine & # 8211; an excuse that Kyiv and the West reject as an unfounded pretext for a war that has already led to the occupation of parts of southern Ukraine far beyond Donbas.
The Russian president stressed that Russian troops in Donbas are also fighting to defend “Russia's rights to ensure development.”
“The West has essentially refused to meet its previous obligations. It has proved impossible to conclude new agreements with it,” Putin said.
threats, Russia's decision to conduct a special military operation was imperative & # 8211; difficult, of course, but imperative and necessary. ” economic sovereignty.
“Washington and its allies have been trying to 'change the course of history,'” he said, “to weaken a sovereign, independent Russia.” after a lengthy indictment of the United States and its Western allies. the Russian economy has overcome the Western sanctions imposed on it.
Western allies led by the EU and the US have imposed the toughest economic sanctions on any nation in modern history since Moscow invaded Ukraine on February 24.
The Russian president has said that the EU could lose more than $ 400 billion in sanctions, which he said would boomerang on those who imposed them.
The Russian president stressed that the EU had lost its “political sovereignty” by embarking on a path that would lead to radicalism and elite change, criticizing EU economic policies such as “printing money” to tackle high inflation and of inequality.
He also attacked the West for blaming it personally for its financial woes and said Russia's actions in Ukraine – which Moscow calls a “special military operation” – had nothing to do with high inflation in developed countries. Referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Putin said that Moscow's decision to launch a “special military operation” in Ukraine was difficult but necessary.
He went on to say that rising world prices is not Russia's fault.
The Russian leader has accused the United States of pushing up food prices by printing money and “running to collect” food on world markets.
Putin said Russia was ready to boost its grain and fertilizer exports and that Moscow would export food to Africa and the Middle East.
open economy “despite unprecedented Western sanctions and will continue to trade with Western companies. He expressed hope that gas flows would increase through new routes.
Russia will continue to expand economic cooperation “with those who want it,” the Russian president said.
“Another NATO, another EU” & # 8211; Putin “approves” Ukraine's accession to the EU
Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the World Economic Forum in St. Petersburg on Friday that his country expects relations with with Ukraine will be restored after the completion of the “special military operation”.
In an interview with Kazakh President Kasim-Zomart Tokayev, Putin specifically said: “Sooner or later, the situation will return to normal.”
The Russian president also assured that Moscow does not oppose a possible accession of Ukraine to the European Union.
“We have nothing against it, it is their decision whether or not to join economic unions (…) Russia, which has been invading Ukraine since February 24, sees Kiev 's ambition to join NATO, which Moscow sees as a threat to its security. However, “as far as their economic integration is concerned, it is their (Ukrainians') choice,” the Russian president stressed.
“Unlike NATO.”
Nevertheless, Vladimir Putin said that “Ukraine will become a semi-colony” of Western countries if it joins the EU. “This is mine point of view “, he said characteristically.
