Vladimir Putin Criticizes Western Sanctions Against Russia

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, on Thursday, June 7, criticized Western sanctions against his country during a television program, stating that the Western approach of viewing Russia as a threat and competitor is a "mistake." The Russian President also warned that "the United States' withdrawal from anti-ballistic missile treaties is an attempt to end strategic balance, but we will respond to this move." Mr. Putin made these remarks during a live "Q&A" program, which lasts several hours, where citizens from across Russia call in with questions that the President answers. Vladimir Putin typically participates in such programs several times a year. Following widespread protests and a political shift in Ukraine, leading to the country exiting Russia's sphere of influence, Kremlin officials took action to separate the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine and annex it to Russia. This action faced condemnation from the international community, and since then, Russia has been targeted by sanctions from the U.S. and the European Union. In response to a question regarding Western sanctions, the Russian President said, "This is a way to limit Russia... because the endless accusations they make have laid the groundwork for their restrictive actions." He continued, "The reason is that Russia is seen as a threat; they think Russia is going to become a competitor. In my opinion, this approach is wrong. Instead of creating limitations, it is better to establish constructive cooperation, which will positively impact the overall economy globally." Mr. Putin emphasized, "We believe that imposing unilateral sanctions is not a solution to problems but rather exacerbates them." In response to another question regarding his country's foreign relations, he stated, "Understanding that World War III could end civilization should deter us from severe actions in the international arena; actions that are very dangerous for today's civilization." He also criticized the U.S. withdrawal from anti-ballistic missile treaties and warned that "we will respond to this move." The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty was in effect from 1972 to 2002, but the U.S. withdrew from this treaty in 2002. Since then, Russia has turned to modernizing its missile systems, and Vladimir Putin occasionally announces advancements in this area. James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, declared Russia and China as the "main challenges to the prosperity and security" of the U.S. in 2018. According to James Mattis, the United States is no longer unrivaled on land, sea, space, and cyberspace as it once was. In his television program on Thursday, Vladimir Putin also emphasized the importance of space exploration and noted that his country's cooperation with the United States in this area will continue.