President Vladimir Putin told Russia’s investment conference that the country’s economy will overcome “reckless and insane” sanctions while condemning the United States for acting as “God’s messengers on planet Earth.”
Putin began his speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum with a long denunciation of countries that he says want to weaken Russia, including the United States.
He said the US “declared victory in the Cold War and later thought of itself as God’s messengers on planet Earth.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures as he addresses a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Friday, June 17, 2022. Putin began his speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum with a long-running denunciation of countries that he says want to weaken Russia, including the United States, which, he said, “declared victory in the Cold War and later came to be seen as God’s messengers on planet Earth. “. (Photo AP / D (AP)
Russia suffered a wide range of sanctions after sending troops to Ukraine in February. Hundreds of foreign companies also suspended operations in Russia or withdrew completely from the country.
Putin said trying to damage the Russian economy “did not work”.
“Russian companies and government authorities worked in a composite and professional manner,” he said.
“We are normalizing the economic situation. We stabilized the financial markets, the banking system, the trading system. “
Russia’s projected inflation rate has fallen marginally, but the current projected annual rate of 16.7% is still too high, he said.
Putin also vehemently defended his country’s actions in Ukraine. Russia has said its neighbor poses a threat to its desire to join the NATO military alliance.
“In the current situation, in the context of growing risks and threats, Russia’s decision to conduct a special military operation was forced,” the Russian leader said.
“It was very hard to do, but it was forced and necessary. It was a decision of a sovereign country that has an unconditional right, based on the UN Charter, to defend its security.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin on the left Margarita Simonyan, head of the Russian RT television channel in the center, and Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attend a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg , Russia, Friday, June 17, 2022. Putin began his speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum with a lengthy denunciation of countries that he says want to weaken Russia, including the United States, which he said declare the victim (AP)
Putin predicted Russia’s success in Ukraine after more than 16 weeks of fighting.
“All the objectives of the special military operation will be definitively achieved,” he said.
“This is predetermined by the courage and heroism of our warriors, the consolidation of Russian society, the support of which gives strength and confidence to the Russian army and navy, the deep understanding of righteousness and historical justice. of our cause “.
Russia will also “accept any choice” made by the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine over its future, Putin said.
It has been widely speculated that the separatist territories will hold votes to join Russia, as when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Separatist leaders in both areas have expressed a desire for such a referendum.
Russia recognized the two areas as independent states days before sending troops to Ukraine, a move that none of its allies has repeated so far. Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who sat on stage next to Putin at the St. Petersburg forum on Friday, said the Central Asian nation is unlikely to do so and called the republics self-proclaimed. of “quasi-state territories.”
Gestures by Russian President Vladimir Putin Attend Plenary Session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, June 17, 2022. (AP Photo / Dmitri Lovetsky) (AP)
Fighting in Ukraine has raised fears of a global food crisis because it has disrupted food exports, especially cereals.
Putin said Russia could “significantly increase its food and fertilizer exports,” but expressed concern that Ukraine could use its export earnings to pay for the weapons it has received from other countries.
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