We've gained, not lost, from sanctions over Ukraine, says Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Wednesday that Russia had not lost anything as a result of its military campaign in Ukraine.
Speaking at an economic forum in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, Putin said that all of Russia's actions were designed to strengthen the country's sovereignty and were aimed at "helping people" living in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
"We have not lost anything and will not lose anything," Putin said. "In terms of what we have gained, I can say that the main gain has been the strengthening of our sovereignty.”
Putin conceded, however, that Moscow's decision to send troops into Ukraine had created a "certain polarisation, both in the world and within the country”.
At the same time, Putin warned of a looming global food crisis and said he would discuss amending a landmark grain deal with Ukraine to limit the countries that can receive cargo shipments.
Putin said Russia had signed the deal in July, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, on the understanding it would help alleviate surging food prices in the developing world, but instead, it was rich Western countries that were taking advantage of the deal.
"If we exclude Turkey as an intermediary country, then almost all the grain exported from Ukraine is sent not to the poorest developing countries, but to European Union countries,” he said.
"Once again, developing countries have simply been deceived and continue to be deceived. It is obvious that with this approach, the scale of food problems in the world will only increase ... which can lead to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.”
During his speech, Putin also repeated his assertion that the current Ukrainian government is an "illegitimate regime", saying it was
Read more on euronews.com
