According to "Russia Today" (RT), Russia's Putin said on Wednesday (10th) local time that Russia did not give in in to foreign pressure and showed real resilience. He said Russia is a "self-sufficient country" whose economy is growing despite sanctions, while EU member states are going through "difficult times." In response, Putin said that "the EU needs Russia" is better than "Russia needs the EU".
According to the report, Putin made the above speech while meeting with the people of Chukotka Autonomous Region in the Russian Far East. Asked about threats to a local volunteer organization supporting Russia's special military operation, Putin said Russians are often threatened by foreign countries, but "that doesn't frighten us." He also suggested that the EU should focus on its own problems.
They should think about themselves, (think) about what they will eat and what they will wear tomorrow. "They all have a lot of problems, and these problems are incompatible with ours." ”
Even Europe's major economies are going through difficult times. We are growing, they are ...... decliningIt turns out that they are more dependent on us than we are (more) dependent on them. Putin said.
RT mentioned that since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Russia has become one of the most sanctioned countries in the world. Many Western countries have imposed several rounds of comprehensive sanctions on Moscow, and the latest sanctions are currently on Russian diamonds**.
On January 3 this year, the Council of the European Union announced that Russian diamond producer Alrosa had been added to the sanctions list. The European Council said in a press release on the same day that Russia's state-owned Alrosa is the world's largest diamond producer, accounting for 90 percent of Russia's diamond production and providing Russia with a lot of revenue. Also on the sanctions list of the EU is the CEO of the company, Pavel Alekseevich Marinetchev. The communiqué said the sanctions are in addition to the ban on Russian diamond imports in the 12th round of EU sanctions against Russia. On December 18, 2023, the 12th round of sanctions against Russia adopted by the European Union involves the Russian diamond industry, energy industry, and a number of enterprises and individuals.