Putin Calls Europe’s Move to Ban Russia-Linked Trade ‘Stupid’

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday criticised the European Union’s economic policies, calling the bloc’s decision to ban goods and services linked to Russia a stupid move. He also said Russian industrial production had increased compared with 2021 and that the country’s external debt accounted for just 2.6% of gross domestic product.

Putin stressed that Europe’s economy, especially Germany, has been facing a decline in industrial production, saying this has had broad negative effects on the eurozone economy. The Russian president also said Russia had never cut off its energy supplies, but that European countries had refused to take Russian energy because of their own decisions, while Europe still continues to receive a significant amount of Russian energy.

He also referred to the migration crisis in the European Union, saying Europe does not have the capacity to absorb all migrants and that this has led to a crisis in the region.