Putin speaks at a forum in the Russian Far East region

Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) 2022 plenary session in Vladivostok, Russia September 7, 2022. Sergey Bobylev/TASS Host Photo Agency/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. COMPULSORY CREDIT. NO RESALE. NO ARCHIVES

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept 7 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed participants at an economic forum in the eastern city of Vladivostok on Wednesday.

Putin spoke in Russian. The quotes below have been translated by Reuters.

ON UKRAINE

“We have lost nothing and will not lose anything. In terms of what we have gained, I can say that the main gain has been the strengthening of our sovereignty, and that is the inevitable result of what is happening now. Of course, there is a certain polarization taking place, both in the world and within the country, but I believe that this will only be beneficial, because all that is useless, harmful and all that prevents us from moving forward will be thrown back into the rhythm of development because modern development can only be based on sovereignty.All our steps in this direction are aimed at strengthening our sovereignty.

“We have not started anything in terms of military actions, we are only trying to end (the conflict). Hostilities began in 2014 after a coup in Ukraine – those who did not want a peaceful development normal and sought to suppress their own. carrying out one military operation after another and subjecting the people of Donbass to genocide for eight years, Russia has decided, after repeated attempts to resolve this problem peacefully, to respond tit for tat , to the way our potential adversary acted… All our actions are aimed at helping the people of Donbass. This is our duty and we will fulfill it to the end. This will ultimately strengthen our country from within, as well as its foreign policy positions.

ON WESTERN DOMINANCE

“Other challenges of a global nature that threaten the whole world have replaced the pandemic. I am talking about the sanctions fever of the West, with its brazen and aggressive attempt to impose models of behavior on other countries, to deprive them of their sovereignty and to subordinate them to their will.

“There is nothing unusual about this. This is the policy the West has collectively pursued for decades.

“Western countries strive to maintain an old world order that only benefits them, to force everyone to live by the infamous rules that they themselves have invented and regularly break, rules that they constantly change for themselves. -even given current circumstances.”

ON ECONOMIC TIES WITH THE WEST

“In the spring, many foreign companies rushed to leave Russia, thinking that our country would suffer more than others. But now we see how production and jobs in Europe are closing down one after another. L One of the main reasons for this, of course, is the severance of commercial ties with Russia. The competitiveness of European companies is declining because the European authorities themselves are depriving them of available raw materials, energy resources and markets. of sale.

“In an attempt to resist the course of history, Western countries are undermining essential pillars of the global economic system, built over centuries. Before our eyes, confidence in the dollar, euro and pound sterling as currencies in which it is possible to make settlements, hold reserves and denominate assets has been lost.We are gradually moving away from the use of these unreliable currencies which discredit themselves.

GAS

“First of all, our energy resources must be directed towards the development of our own country. This also applies to all primary energy sources and mineral resources. But we have so many of them that we are ready to meet the growing needs of anyone who wants to work with us… Having received natural gas from Russia for decades, the economies of major European countries had clear competitive advantages on a global scale. need such advantages, we don’t mind at all because the demand for energy resources in the world is very high.”

ON A PROPOSED CAP ON GAS PRICES

“This is another (example of) stupidity. This is another non-market solution that has no prospect. All administrative restrictions in world trade only lead to imbalances and higher prices. This happening on the European markets is the result of the work of specialists and the European Commission. We have always insisted that prices must be formed on the basis of long-term contracts and be linked to a market category such as price of petroleum and petroleum products.

ON THE NORD STREAM 1 AND NORD STREAM 2 PIPELINES

“Nord Steam 1 is practically closed now. There is an oil leak there – it is a potentially explosive situation, a fire hazard. The turbine cannot operate. Give us a turbine and we will light Nord Stream 1 tomorrow. But they don’t give us anything.”

“In Germany we are seeing protests demanding the launch of Nord Stream 2. We share the demands of German consumers. We are ready to do it tomorrow, just press a button. Well, we don’t have imposed sanctions on Nord Stream 2. They did so under pressure from the Americans.”

ON CEREAL EXPORTS FROM UKRAINE

“Despite all the difficulties that took place around the events in Ukraine, we did everything to ensure that Ukrainian grain was exported…I met with the leaders of the African Union, the leaders of African countries, and told them promised that we would do everything to ensure their interests and facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain. We have done this with Turkey. If we exclude Turkey as an intermediary country, almost all the grain exported from Ukraine is sent not to poorer developing countries but to EU countries.”

“Once again, they have simply deceived developing countries and continue to deceive them. With this approach, the scale of the food (supply) problems in the world will only increase, unfortunately. To our great regret , this can lead to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.”

ON THE RUSSIAN ZAPORIZHZHIA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN UKRAINE

“I certainly trust this report, the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) is a very responsible international organization, and the leader is a very professional person. Of course, they are under pressure from the countries where they work, including the United States, European countries… We control the station, our military is stationed there, are we shooting at each other or what?

ON THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY

“Russia is facing economic, financial and technological aggression from the West. There is no other way to describe it. Russia’s foreign exchange and financial markets have stabilized, inflation is in The unemployment rate is at a historic low, below 4% Forecasts and assessments of the economy, including by entrepreneurs, are now much more optimistic than they were in early spring The economic situation has stabilized overall, however, of course, we are seeing problems in a number of industries and regions, in some companies in the country, especially those that export to Europe or supply their products there.

ON NEW UK PRIME MINISTER LIZ TRUSS

“In the United Kingdom, the procedure for electing the (leader) is far (from respecting) democratic principles. It takes place within the framework of the party which won the previous general elections. The people of Great Britain do not take part, in this case, in the change of government. The ruling elites there have their arrangements. We know the position of the Tories (conservatives) on these questions, including on relations with Russia. them to build relations with the Russian Federation. Our job is to defend our own interests and we will do so consistently, no one doubts that.”

Reuters reporting; edited by Angus MacSwan and Philippa Fletcher

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