Saed News: The President of Russia, emphasizing the failure of attempts to isolate Moscow, said that the Russian economy continues to grow steadily despite sanctions.
According to SAEDNEWS, citing Novosti news agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that new types of weapons are constantly emerging, but some countries ignore international restrictions related to the use of such weapons.
Putin said on Friday evening during the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2026: “Regarding new methods and tools of warfare, they are constantly being updated, and the international community is always trying to impose limitations in this area, but unfortunately many countries are moving away from these agreements.”
He cited agreements on the non-use of anti-personnel mines as an example and added that drones have become a new reality in modern armed conflicts.
Putin stressed that Russia must strengthen its air defense systems and take all necessary measures to protect the country, noting that steps are already being taken in this direction.
The Russian president also said that Russia possesses all necessary capabilities for independent development of modern weapons, including scientific schools, industrial infrastructure, human resources, and required materials. He assured that Russia’s defense industry is capable of equipping its armed forces with the necessary tools for combat operations.
Putin stated that no country in the world has access to a missile system comparable to the “Oreshnik” system. He said: “The opposing side (Ukraine) does not have the capability to produce such systems that Russia possesses. This includes hypersonic weapons and cruise missiles of all types, as well as other weapons systems that neither Ukraine nor other countries possess—for example, a medium-range system such as ‘Oreshnik’.”
He noted that Russia is also developing other offensive systems, while emphasizing that the use of such weapons against civilians is unacceptable and described it as a “humanitarian crime.” He stressed: “We must strengthen our security, strengthen our missile defense and air defense systems, and we will do so.”
The Russian president emphasized that Russia has never truly been isolated and that efforts to isolate the country have failed. He made these remarks in response to a journalist’s question about whether Russia can be considered isolated given the presence of representatives from 130 countries at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum 2026.
Putin said: “The initiative to isolate Russia was launched by the previous U.S. administration, and this is clear to everyone. Then European countries followed this path, and today they are even more active than the United States in this regard. But such isolation has essentially never existed, including because cooperation with some partners in the United States continued.”
He added that in areas beneficial to Western countries, cooperation never stopped. As an example, he pointed to continued uranium exports from Russia to the United States, calling it a sign of Washington’s pragmatic approach.
He further noted that Russia’s own projects have never stopped and cooperation with reliable partner countries continues, mentioning Asian and African countries. He specifically named India, saying it never “succumbs to external pressure,” and described China as a country whose sovereignty and independence are “beyond any doubt.”
Putin said that Russia’s economy continues to grow and develop despite sanctions. He stated: “Wars and sanctions continue, but our economy is developing and everything is stable. Even the domestic market is growing and the standard of living is increasing. Despite all difficulties, which exist everywhere and always, the fundamental foundations of Russia’s economic development are stable and have good growth prospects.”
He added that the poverty rate in Russia has decreased to 6.7%, although this target was originally planned for 2030. He emphasized that macroeconomic indicators remain stable despite external challenges.
Putin also said that investors and companies assess all short- and long-term risks when making economic decisions, but interest in operating in Russia remains strong. He noted that sanctions harm the countries imposing them more than Russia itself.
Referring to about $300 billion in frozen Russian assets, he said Russia’s international reserves have exceeded $500 billion. He added: “Look at these results—have they harmed us? Yes, to some extent. But have those imposing sanctions suffered? Of course they have, and significantly.”
He said European countries have suffered major losses due to sanctions against Russia, estimating damages at between €1.5 trillion and €2.5 trillion.
The Russian president concluded that a reassessment of the effectiveness of sanctions policies is gradually emerging worldwide, and even some Western companies are once again considering cooperation with Russian partners.
