Petersburg, I don't want to die yet

Despite the sanctions against Russia and the fall of world prices, Russia managed to avoid a deep crisis. This was stated by President Vladimir Putin at a plenary meeting of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Kremlin press service reports .

“Not so bad from the point of view of sanctions. There are pros and cons,” Putin Gazeta.ru quotes Putin.

Putin admitted that GDP and industrial production in Russia in the first quarter of this year were reduced, and inflation increased due to the devaluation of the ruble. However, according to the president, the Russian economy has accumulated a sufficient supply of internal strength. Thanks to operational measures, it was possible to stabilize the currency course and preserve reserves, Putin assured.

The introduction of sanctions intensified the work on import substitution, Putin noted. The production of domestic products in the agro -industrial sector has increased. Russia hopes for the development of relations with the countries of Latin America and BRICS.

The crisis in Ukraine and the NATO movement to the east are caused by the geopolitical ambitions of the United States, the president said. According to him, after the collapse of the USSR of the West and, above all, the United States "in euphoria" instead of building relations with new countries began to master new geopolitical territories.

The United States is trying to determine what Russia needs, "interfering in domestic political processes, including through financing the non -governmental sector, imposing decisions in the field of international security," Putin noted. He stated that it is unacceptable to speak with Moscow in the language of ultimatums and the United States should allow Russia to determine its interests and needs itself.

Local conflicts, but global decisions, said to the Cold War, Putin said. As an example, he gave the United States from the software agreement.

Russia and China do not create any military units, Putin noted. According to him, Russia never acts from the standpoint of power, but always seeks decisions within the framework of negotiation processes.

Putin noted that with all the difficulties of today's situation, “Russians and Ukrainians are one people, one ethnic group, in any case,” with their originality, cultural characteristics, but with a common history, culture, and spiritual roots. Russia is counting on a full confidential and equal dialogue with Ukraine, Putin said.

The president emphasized that the conflict in Ukraine can only be resolved through negotiations. Russia will seek the full execution of the Minsk agreements, but cannot do this unilaterally, Putin noted. He called for a direct dialogue between Kyiv, "DPR" and "LPR".