Friday, President Vladimir Putin declared the end of “neo-colonialism” in international politics and lauded Russia’s economic strategy in the wake of its severed relations with the West.
Since Putin dispatched troops to Ukraine in February 2022 and the West slammed Russia with unprecedented sanctions, the annual economic forum in Saint Petersburg has become a shadow of its former self.
Putin stated, “The ugly neocolonial system of international relations no longer exists, whereas the multipolar global order is strengthening.”
Putin has repeatedly criticized the dominance of the United States in international politics, and he has attempted to portray Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine as a war against the decadent West.
“This outcome is inevitable.”
He asserted that Western nations have refused to engage in dialogue with Russia and suggested that the West would welcome future dialogue.
Putin stated, “We will determine at what point and what we can discuss with them.”
Speaking about Russia’s economy, he acknowledged that the second quarter of last year was “the most difficult” due to unprecedented Western sanctions.
“Today, we can confidently assert that the strategy chosen at the time by both the Russian government and Russian business was successful,” he added.
He also asserted that roughly half of the Russians who fled the country after the offensive in Ukraine began had returned.
Putin stated, “This process is ongoing, but if someone wants to live elsewhere, that’s their choice.”
He added that many Russians now reside in the United Arab Emirates, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
I see nothing wrong with allowing people to reside wherever they choose.
The Kremlin stated that the slogan for this year’s forum was “The sovereign development is the foundation of a just world.”
AFP and other countries deemed “hostile” by the Kremlin were denied accreditation to cover the forum.