Vladimir Putin has called Western sanctions imposed on his country as a “threat to the entire world, during a speech at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok
The President of Russia – Vladimir Putin has called Western sanctions imposed on his country following the invasion of Ukraine as a “threat to the entire world”.
He made the comments during a speech at the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia’s Pacific Port City of Vladivostok.
Putin said the measures are “Undisguised aggressive attempts to impose behaviour patterns on other countries, deprive them of their sovereignty and subordinate them to their will.”
A day before, Russia officially announced that gas supplies through Nord Stream 1 to Germany will not resume unless the West lifts all the sanctions. Putin also denied weaponising the energy market. The West sees it as a retaliation to members of Group of Seven (G7) having agreed to impose a price cap on Russian oil to hit it’s ability of funding the invasion of Ukraine.
He warned the quality of life for Europeans was being sacrificed to sanctions while poorer countries were losing access to food. He also said Europe was cheating poor countries out of Ukraine’s grain. Ever since Russia allowed the export of food grains from ports of Ukraine, only 2 ships have gone to Africa.
He also dismissed the reports that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions imposed by the West have a major effect on the economy. He said that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would fall by about 2% or a little more in 2022, a more optimistic forecast than Russia’s economy ministry had previously released. He added that Russia’s budget surplus this year would come in at 1.5 trillion Roubles (U.S. $ 24.5 billion).
He also said that efforts to isolate Russia are vain as Russia is really looking forward to Asia. He added that partnerships in the region “will create colossal new opportunities for our people.”
Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to China – Andrey Denisov said that Putin will meet the President of China – Xi Jinping next week during a regional summit in Uzbekistan. It would be the first in-person meeting since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Days before the invasion, Putin and Xi had signed an agreement pledging that relations between the countries would have “no limits”.
Putin also attended sweeping military drills in the country’s East that also involved forces from China. Separately, Russia announced that China would be switching from U.S. dollars to the national currencies of the two countries – Yuan and Rubles – to pay for deliveries of Russian natural gas.
