Putin’s Message to China on Sanctions: Russia Must be Sovereign or She Will Not Exist at All
The sanctions policy is detrimental to those who impose them, has said Vladimir Putin in an interview with China Media Group ahead of his visit to the country. The President has expressed his hope that the illegal restrictions that are harmful to the world economy will be gradually removed.
Vladimir Putin: "We are not surprised at any restrictions or sanctions; neither does it frighten us nor will it ever force us to abandon our independent, sovereign path of development. I believe that either Russia will be sovereign or it will not exist at all. And, of course, the Russian people will always choose the first, there is no other way for us. But we understand that, imposing restrictions and sanctions, our partners pursue the one and only goal which is to confine our development. I have no doubt that this, as lawyers say, is an exercise in futility, and nothing will come of it. This policy primarily hurts its instigators. However, I believe that common sense will still prevail, that all illegal restrictions that are harmful to the development of the world economy will be gradually removed, and we'll get the relationship with all partners back on track, including the US and other countries that did their bidding and also imposed sanctions".
Vladimir Putin also stressed that the Western countries' actions didn't help stabilize the situation on the Korean peninsula. According to the Russian President, North Korea has taken many steps towards a rapprochement, never getting a response.
Vladimir Putin: "The North Korean leadership has taken what I call unexpected and even unprecedented steps to remove tensions. First, they announced that they would stop missile tests, they announced they would stop nuclear tests. Moreover, they have already destroyed one of their largest nuclear test sites. Of course, these are all practical steps towards denuclearization, which is our common final goal. It's regretful that our Western partners, the United States and, unfortunately, South Korea haven't abandoned their military exercises and maneuvers that are far from helping a detente. But still, US President Donald Trump has made a very brave and mature decision to cultivate direct contacts with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. So, I hope that this meeting will take place. And we'll be all looking forward to a good outcome".