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Putin slams Western sanctions as ineffective

Iran Press TV

Thu Dec 4, 2014 11:7AM GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Western sanctions against Russia will not undermine the country, nor will they alter Moscow's policies.

Putin made the remarks during his annual state-of-the-nation address on Thursday before the country's both legislative chambers in the Kremlin, censuring Western governments for their bid to set up another iron curtain around Russia.

The Russian president said that it is senseless for the Western countries to speak to Russia from the position of force and superiority.

Putin also indicated that Moscow still censures what he referred to as 'the coup in Ukraine,' a reference to the ouster of then President Viktor Yanukovych back in February. He said the follow-up events in neighboring Ukraine proved that Moscow's policies toward the country have been appropriate.

He also emphasized that Russia respects the sovereignty of former soviet republics, including Ukraine, saying, "It is well known that Russia did not only support Ukraine's but also other former Soviet republics' ambitions to become sovereign countries."

Additionally, the Russian president accused the West of interference in Ukraine's internal affairs and cynicism in their handling of the crisis in that country.

He said Western countries used the Ukrainian crisis as a pretext to impose sanctions against Russia.

Ukraine's mainly Russian-speaking regions in the east have witnessed deadly clashes between pro-Russia forces and the Ukrainian army since Kiev launched military operations to silence the pro-Moscow protests in mid-April.

According to the latest figures released by the United Nations, more than 4,300 people have been killed in the fighting. In addition, nearly a million people have been forced to flee their homes.

Kiev and its Western allies accuse Russia of having a hand in the chaotic situation in eastern Ukraine. However, the Kremlin has repeatedly denied the allegation as baseless.

MFB/HJL/KA