Russian President Vladimir Putin harshly criticized the West during a meeting with State Duma deputies on Monday, July 27. Putin accused Western countries of attempting to destabilize the Russian state and create social divisions in the country.
According to a statement from the Kremlin press service, Putin said, "After failing to defeat Russia on the battlefield, they openly turned to fighting with terrorist methods against our people. But no one can ever break the Russian people. This has never happened and will never happen."
The Russian leader said that the West is trying to suffocate the Russian economy, financial system, and banking sector, and undermine its scientific, industrial, and educational potential.
Putin: Sanctions are useless
Putin noted that the damage from Western sanctions primarily harms those who create and initiate them, affecting the people of some European and other countries. The Russian leader said that since 2022, the West has run its Russophobia machine at full throttle, almost breaking world records, "both in the number of so-called sanctions and in their uselessness."
Reminding that Russia has long faced "illegal restrictions, obstruction and pressure attempts," Putin said this situation existed both before and after the Russian Spring of 2014.
Social unity and political solidarity
Putin emphasized that the multinational people of Russia have responded to historical trials and external pressure with internal unity. "Today we continue to defend the security and independence of the state, truth and justice. Participants in the special military operation are heroically fighting for the motherland. All our people, all of society supports them. We will achieve our goals and together do everything for victory, for Russia," he said.
Drawing attention to the solidarity shown by various political forces in the country, Putin noted that about two-thirds of the nearly three thousand legislative acts passed in these years received the support of all factions. He expressed that the State Duma deputies have fully justified their high status as people's representatives, demonstrating unconditional loyalty to the fatherland, competence and determination.
Reunification of four regions stressed
The Russian leader noted that parliamentarians acted as a united front when adopting laws on the reunification of Russia with four historical regions (the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, and the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions). He said that these regions have been integrated as full-fledged subjects of the federation.
Putin stressed that all strategic decisions are based on "the real choice and will of Russian citizens." "We have no other goals. This is precisely what those who deny other peoples' right to self-determination and their free path dislike," he said.
Putin said that the West remembers the UN Charter when it suits them but prefers to forget its first article — the right of peoples to self-determination. "For those accustomed to seeing other countries not as equal partners but as obedient, silent vassals, such double standards are always profitable. But we understand very well what is happening," he said.
Economic and social goals
Putin stated that in the upcoming three-year budget work, solving priority social tasks will be fundamental, along with strengthening the country's defense. He also said that key sectors of the economy, leading domestic companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and the labor market where unemployment has fallen to historic lows will be supported.
He said that Russia has not only adapted to new conditions and overcome externally created "artificial barriers," but has also set major ambitious goals such as increasing people's welfare, providing broad opportunities for everyone's self-realization, and reducing poverty.
"Of course, we have things to be proud of here: we are setting good dynamics, goals for technological leadership, and despite all these external restrictions, strangely enough, we are achieving the results we need. We will continue to work in all these areas," Putin said, thanking the deputies for quickly adopting effective "anti-sanctions measures."
