Putin Lashes Out at West, Admits That Sanctions Hurt Russia

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin lashed out Thursday at what he described as Western attempts to contain Russia, while he acknowledged that sanctions have hurt his country and announced plans to strengthen ties with Latin America.

“Talking to Russia from a position of strength is senseless,” Putin said during a speech on the state of the nation before the Federal Assembly.

“The policy of deterrence was not invented yesterday. It has been always directed towards our country, for decades, if not centuries,” he added.

Putin acknowledged that international sanctions are “harmful” for Russia, but said he was convinced that even without the annexation of Crimea and the crisis in Ukraine, the West would have found another pretext to impose them.

The Russian leader dedicated the first part of his speech to defending Russia’s position on the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which triggered the current Western sanctions against Russia.

The Kremlin chief criticized the West for supporting the Ukrainian army in its “repression” of the pro-Russian population, such as the incident in Odessa, an important Black Sea port, last May, when “people were burned alive.”

Putin stressed that Moscow respects Ukraine’s sovereignty, but criticized the absence of dialogue over the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU, an issue that triggered anti-government protests in Kiev.

Moreover, he criticized the policy of Western containment and declared that “no one can achieve military superiority over Russia.”

The Russian president assured the lawmakers that his country has no intention of involving itself in a long-term arms race, but will guarantee sufficient military capabilities in light of the global situation.

He also criticized the United States for moving forward with strategic plans to deploy elements of its anti-missile shield in Europe.

Putin clarified that he is not considering, under any circumstances, suspending relations with Europe or the United States.

Turning to other matters, the Russian leader revealed his intention to restore and expand traditional ties with the South American continent, in addition to continuing cooperation with Africa and the Middle East.