Putin says Russia won’t bow to US pressure over Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin said Russia would never bow to pressure from the United States or any other foreign power and warned of an “overwhelming” response to any military strike deep into Russia.
US President Donald Trump targeted Russia’s two largest oil companies with sanctions on Wednesday in a sharp policy shift over the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, prompting global oil prices to rise nearly five per cent on Thursday and prompting India to consider cutting Russian imports.
Putin told reporters that foreign sanctions were “unfriendly” behavior and “will have certain consequences, but will not significantly affect our economic well-being.”
Russia’s energy sector is confident, he said.
“This is, of course, an attempt to put pressure on Russia,” Putin said.
“But no self-respecting country and no self-respecting person decides anything under pressure.”
Joking with journalists about how sanctions could prevent other countries from importing Russian toilets, Putin reminded that Trump imposed harsh sanctions on Russia during his first term.
He warned that disruptions to exports from Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter, would lead to a sharp rise in oil prices, including at U.S. service stations.
He said this could be politically uncomfortable for U.S. politicians.
While the size of the financial blow to Russia may be limited in the short term, the new sanctions are a strong signal of Trump’s intention to shrink its finances and force the Kremlin into a peace deal; But it remains to be seen whether India will actually stop buying Russian crude.
Trump, who described Russia as a “paper tiger”, said that he canceled the summit planned to be held with Putin on Wednesday.
The US Treasury imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies.
Putin said the summit and location (Budapest) were suggested by Trump.
“What can I say? Dialogue is always better than some kind of conflict, some kind of disagreement and even more importantly, war,” Putin said.
Asked about the Wall Street Journal report that the Trump administration had lifted a key restriction on Ukraine’s use of some long-range missiles supplied by its allies, and about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s remarks about indigenous missiles with a range of 3,000 km, Putin said: “This is an attempt to escalate tensions.”
“But if such weapons are used to attack Russian territory, the reaction will be very serious, if not very severe. Let them think about it,” he said.
During his visit to Brussels to meet with European Union leaders on Thursday, Zelenskiy said Ukraine needed funds from Russia’s frozen assets at the beginning of next year and that the day’s dialogue on the issue was not straightforward.
Addressing EU leaders, Zelenskiy said, “It is now time to take action regarding Russian assets.”
“I ask for your full support,” he said.
“Anyone who delays this decision is not only limiting our defense, but also slowing down your own progress.”
Zelenskiy also said territorial swaps with Russia were “unacceptable” and reiterated his position that a ceasefire should be held before any talks on a potential solution to end the war.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever threatened to block the implementation of the measure, demanding various guarantees from EU leaders.
Belgium is a key player in this regard because Belgian financial institution Euroclear manages a large portion of Russian assets currently frozen in the EU.
“I want the risk to be fully mutualized because there is a huge risk,” De Wever said on the way to the meeting.
“If the money has to be paid back, we want guarantees that every member state will contribute,” he said.
with DPA
