MOSCOW — Russian President
Vladimir Putin
promised financial help to ordinary Russians and the country's businesses
Wednesday, calling on the nation to come together to overcome the West's
"economic blitzkrieg".
اضافة اعلان
Putin made an impassioned defense of his
military actions in Ukraine, saying his tactics were "completely
justified" and that he had no other choice but to send troops into the
country.
Speaking at a televised government meeting,
the
Kremlin chief called on Russians to "mobilize" in order to
overcome difficulties related to the massive sanctions imposed on the
country.
"Yes, it is not easy for us now,"
Putin acknowledged.
"But this economic blitzkrieg against
Russia has failed."
He announced an "increase of all social
payments in the near future" and said the Russian economy had "all
the necessary resources to solve long-term tasks".
"The current situation is, of course, a
test," the longtime leader said.
"I am sure that we will pass it with
dignity and hard work. We will overcome these difficulties," he
said.
He also sought to reassure Russian private
companies, saying they played a "key role in overcoming the current
issues".
Putin promised "maximum entrepreneurial
freedom", ordering his government to "remove administrative
barriers" in an economy largely dominated by the state.
'Spit them out like a fly'
The Russian leader said Western sanctions
had "one aim: the destruction of Russia".
He compared the avalanche of Western
sanctions to anti-Semitic violence by fascists.
"The West dropped its mask of civility
and began to act belligerently. It begs a comparison to the anti-Semitic pogroms"
of Nazis, he said.
Putin claimed that the West sought to divide
Russian society, railing against a "fifth column" that was
"mentally" in the West.
"Russian people will always be able to
distinguish true patriots from traitors and just spit them out like a fly that
accidentally flew into their mouth," he said.
He alleged that the
Russian army's operation
in Ukraine was unfolding "successfully".
"We will not allow Ukraine to serve as
a springboard for aggressive actions against Russia," he said.
He claimed Western leaders gave him "no
option to resolve the process in a peaceful way".
Putin sent troops into Ukraine on February
24 despite Western leaders warning him of massive sanctions that would cripple
the
Russian economy for months.
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