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President Vladimir Putin says Russia will never bow to pressure from the United States or any other foreign power and cautioned it would deliver an “overwhelming” response to any military strikes deep inside Russia.
On Wednesday US President Donald Trump targeted Russia’s two biggest oil companies with sanctions in a sharp policy shift on the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, prompting global oil prices to rise by nearly five per cent on Thursday and India to consider cutting Russian imports.
Putin told reporters that foreign sanctions were an “unfriendly” act and “will have certain consequences but they will not significantly affect our economic wellbeing”.
According to him, Russia’s energy industry remains assured of its stability.
“This is, of course, an attempt to put pressure on Russia,” Putin said.
“But no self-respecting country and no self-respecting people ever decides anything under pressure.”
Putin, after joking with reporters about how sanctions might prevent other countries importing Russian toilets, recalled that Trump imposed tough sanctions on Russia during his first term.
He cautioned that any interference with Russia’s oil exports, which rank as the second largest globally, could result in a significant spike in oil prices, affecting costs at American gas stations.
Putin said it could make US politicians politically uncomfortable.
While the extent of the financial hit on Russia may be limited in the short term, the new sanctions are a powerful signal of Trump’s intent to squeeze its finances and try to force the Kremlin towards a peace deal, although it is still unclear if India will actually cease buying Russian crude oil.
Trump, who has described Russia as a “paper tiger,” said on Wednesday he had cancelled a planned summit with Putin.
The US Treasury has imposed sanctions on two of Russia’s major oil corporations.
Putin said that the summit and venue — Budapest — had been proposed by Trump.
“What can I say? Dialogue is always better than some kind of confrontation, than some kind of dispute or, even more so, war,” Putin said.
Asked about a Wall Street Journal report that the Trump administration has lifted a key restriction on Ukraine’s use of some long-range missiles provided by its allies and remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about domestic missiles with a range of 3,000km, Putin said: “This is an attempt at escalation.”
“But if such weapons are used to attack Russian territory, the response will be very serious, if not overwhelming. Let them think about it,” he said.
Zelenskyy said during a visit to Brussels for talks with European Union leaders on Thursday that Ukraine needs funds from Russian frozen assets at the start of next year and that the day’s dialogue on the matter had not been simple.
“The time to act on Russian assets is now,” Zelenskyy said, addressing EU leaders.
“I urge for your full support,” he said.
“Anyone who delays this decision is not only limiting our defence but also slowing down your own progress.”
Zelenskyy also said that land swaps with Russia were “not acceptable” and reiterated his position that a ceasefire should precede any talks on a potential solution to end the war.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has threatened to block the measure from going ahead, demanding several guarantees from fellow EU leaders.
Belgium is a key player in this issue because the Belgian financial institution Euroclear currently manages a large portion of the Russian assets frozen in the EU.
“I want the full mutualisation of the risk because there is a big risk,” De Wever said, as he arrived at the meeting.
“We want guarantees if the money has to be paid back that every member state will chip in.”
