


​Putin: US sanctions contradict its national interests, will backfire





“But as for sanctions, they usually have a boomerang effect, and without a doubt will force US-Russian relations into a corner,” he elaborated. “This is a serious blow to our relationship. And it undermines the long term security interests of the US State and its people.”



Boomerang effect

“The measures taken by the US administration towards Russia, in my view, contradict the national interests of the United States,” Putin said. “This means that, for example, large companies wanting to work in Russia after facing certain restrictions will lose their competitiveness compared with other global energy companies.”

“We gave an opportunity for the largest US company to work in the [Arctic] shelf. So what, the States does not want it to work there?” Putin wondered. “They are hurting their biggest energy companies. And for what? In order to, after making one mistake, insist on making another?”


Reuters / Maxim Shemetov

Ordinary citizens must be supported, not Ukrainian oligarchs

During the Q&A session Putin once again reiterated that it was in Russia's interest to see the end of the conflict in Ukraine and to see that Ukraine pursues economic assistance, including that of the International Monitory Fund (IMF). But at the same time, the Russian president questioned, how the allocated funds including those of Russia were being used.


“But they [funds] are channeled for the military campaign, they are embezzled, half stolen, under the disguise of helping the social sector,” Putin said. “So after the first tranche was issued, this is what is happening.”

READ MORE:Child rescued from debris following Ukraine airstrike on residential building (VIDEO)

Building destroyed by the Ukrainian aviation in the township of Snezhnoye in the Donetsk Region.(RIA Novosti / Mikhail Voskresenskiy)

The aid, Putin said, was “supposed to be helping the banking sector of the country. As far as I know, the bulk of these funds was channeled to the private banks of Ukrainian oligarchs. Where is this money? Where did it end up?” Putin asked.



“What we're seeing today [in Ukraine] is the same thing that happened to the $3 billion loan that Ukraine received from Russia,” Putin said. “It is not just the oligarchs and the swindlers that should be supported, but the ordinary people,” as he stressed that control mechanisms must be implemented in Ukraine that will deal with fund allocation.

International law and constitution should be respected


“Those who force countries to such scenarios should never forget that the blood of the regular army soldiers, of the resistance soldiers, of civilians will be on their hands,” Putin said. “And the tears of mothers, widows, orphans belong to them. And they have no right to shift the responsibility," as he urged all parties in Ukraine to sit at the negotiating table.