West will pay for sanctions and we’ll adapt: Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin claims Western penalties against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine will destabilise the global energy and food markets.

Vladimir Putin has warned that Western penalties against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine would destabilise the global energy and food markets, and vowed the country would emerge stronger from the crisis.

The Russian President’s invasion on February 24 has triggered unprecedented Western sanctions and sparked an exodus of international corporations from Russia.

Mr Putin on Thursday downplayed the massive sanctions, saying Moscow will find a way to “adapt”.

Speaking at a televised government meeting, he said that Western sanctions on Moscow had begun to hurt the US and Europe.

“Their prices are rising, but that’s not our fault. It’s the result of their own miscalculations. There’s no need to blame us,” Mr Putin said.

While the 69-year-old Kremlin chief said Moscow was continuing to export oil and gas, including through conflict-torn Ukraine, he blamed the West for skyrocketing energy prices.

“They are telling their citizens to tighten their belts, to dress warmer,” Mr Putin said.

He stressed that Russia was “respecting all of our obligations in terms of energy supplies”.

AFP