The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin affirmed the situation of public finances and the Russian economy as a whole is stable, despite Western sanctions.

Moscow.- During a speech this Friday at the shipyards in Murmansk, the head of state noted Russia’s GDP grew by 4.1 percent in 2024. Russia ranks fourth among the world’s largest economies, surpassing Japan and Germany.

Putin also noted that sanctions against the country have been increased since the start of the military operation in Ukraine, something that had been in place since 2014 after the coup against then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the destabilization in Ukraine.

According to the Castellum.AI database, some 21,700 individual and sectoral sanctions have been activated against Russia since the start of the military operation in Ukraine.

Putin stated that the policy of containment against Russia is part of the West’s long-term strategy, whose sanctions have dealt a severe blow to the global economy.

EU PREPARES NEW SANCTIONS PACKAGE ON RUSSIA

Brussels.- The European Union (EU) is preparing the 17th package of sanctions on the Russian Federation, the EUObserver website informed on Friday, as quoted by European diplomats.

The work on new sanctions has started, but it is at a very early stage. Its results will not be announced before early summer, the source pointed out.

It is also noted that the EU wants to see how negotiations to resolve the situation in Ukraine develop.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico recently stated that his country might not support the introduction of new sanctions on Russia if they interfere with peace talks in Ukraine.

On February 24, 2025, EU foreign ministers approved the 16th package of sanctions on Russia, in which restrictions against several companies and individuals from that nation have been introduced, and the import of primary aluminum was banned. (PL)