Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Russia has “not lost a thing” from the war in Ukraine and has strengthened itself during the conflict while he strived to paint the Western world as struggling with economic crises.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia — where he delivered opening remarks castigating the Western world for about half of his speech — Putin acknowledged the war has polarized his country but said Russia will “stand to benefit” from the effort and that he would “carry it through” to the end.
“I’m confident that we have not lost a thing, nor are we going to lose anything,” the Russian leader said at the annual economic and trade forum for Eastern world leaders. “The greatest achievement is a stronger sovereignty for Russia, which is an inevitable outcome for what is currently happening. It’s true we see a certain polarization in the world and inside the country, but I think we will only stand to benefit from that.”
Putin also claimed that Russia did not initiate the war in Ukraine. His forces invaded the Eastern European nation in late February after he called Ukrainian leaders “nazis” and puppets of the West.
“We did not start anything as far as military action goes. We’re trying to end the military action,” Putin said. “The military action started in 2014 after a coup d’état in Ukraine by those who did not want a normal, peaceful development, who wanted to suppress their people.”
In 2014, Ukrainians seeking closer ties to the European Union erupted in protest after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych suspended an association agreement with the 27-member nation economic bloc.
Security forces killed around 100 protesters before pressure grew and Yanukovych was forced to flee to Russia. Putin responded by annexing the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine and fomenting rebellions in the eastern region of the nation before he invaded the country full force in February.
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The European Council estimated last month that Russia’s inflation rate climbed to 22 percent, compared to an 8.5 percent increase in the U.S.
The council also said trade has plummeted in Russia, with both exports and imports of products down more than 30 percent.
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Putin says Russia has "not lost a thing" from war in Ukraine https://t.co/jSlk3ewzg4 pic.twitter.com/hF0wPucblv
— The Hill (@thehill) September 8, 2022"I put numbers on the boards."@PUSHA_T
Total combat losses of the enemy from Feb 24 to Sep 7: pic.twitter.com/mUC5NnLcpy
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 7, 2022
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