President of Russia, Vladimir Putin has slammed Western nations “sanctions fever” and defended the invasion of Ukraine during a speech at an economic forum in Russia’s Far East on Wednesday.
Putin stated at the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia’s Pacific port city of Vladivostok that, “The COVID-19 pandemic has been replaced by other global challenges that have affected the whole world.”
He said that, “I am referring to the West sanctions fever,” criticizing “blatant and aggressive” attempts to “subjugate” nations that have not imposed economic restrictions on Russia.
Putin has claimed that Western governments have fallen victim to their own sanctions imposed as punishment for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The President of Russia has alleged the loss of Russia’s raw materials had forced some European businesses to shut, repeated his long-standing claim that trust in the U.S. dollar is declining and said inflation was on the rise in the U.S. and Europe while falling in Russia.
When asked about gains and losses for Russia after the invasion pro-Western Ukraine in February, Putin appeared not to acknowledge military casualties or Russia’s economic downturn.
“I’m confident we haven’t lost anything and won’t lose anything [after invading Ukraine]. Our main gain is strengthening sovereignty,” Putin said.
Putin has further made a claim that most of the grain leaving Ukrainian ports after a Turkey-brokered deal to lift a Russian blockade was reaching the European Union instead of developing nations.
Putin added European nations “acted as colonialists in recent decades and centuries” and “they continue to act so today.”
“With this approach, the scale of food problems in the world will only grow,” Putin said, adding it could lead to “an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.”
Putin asserted that, “Maybe we should think about restricting that route for grain and trade food? I will definitely consult with the President of Turkey.”
Putin was addressing the forum’s plenary session as part of his trip to Russia’s Far East, where he oversaw large-scale Vostok-2022 war games involving China and other Russia-friendly countries Tuesday.
During the forum, Putin was joined by China’s top legislator Li Zhanshu, who ranks third in the Chinese government hierarchy, and Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, whose government is also facing diplomatic isolation.