Putin complains about Ukrainian attacks and "unprecedented pressure" from the West

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has complained about Ukrainian strikes on Russian military and oil facilities and "unprecedented pressure" from the West, while insisting that Russia will overcome these challenges.

Source: Putin at the United Russia party congress, posted on the Kremlin website

Quote: "Russia is facing harsh, and without any exaggeration, unprecedented pressure from Western elites. They cannot inflict a strategic defeat on us or defeat us on the battlefield, so they are trying to destabilise the political situation and sow internal unrest – but they are failing. That is why they continue to encourage the Kyiv regime [the Ukrainian government]."

Details: Putin complained about Ukrainian "precise strikes" on various facilities across Russia as well as alleged recruitment of people inside Russia "to conduct acts of sabotage and terrorist attacks". Meanwhile, he claimed this is happening because the Ukrainian Armed Forces are "retreating along the entire line of contact".

"The West prefers to ignore all of this. It simply ignores it. Yet at the same time, it continues to impose more and more sanctions specifically against us," Putin said.

He also sought to reassure delegates at the party congress that he understands the country's problems and will "certainly resolve them".

"We will certainly ensure the security of both the country and our citizens, and safeguard Russia's borders for the long historical future... We will undoubtedly overcome all the challenges we face today, including terrorist attacks on our territory and on infrastructure facilities," Putin said.

As he has on many previous occasions, Putin also promised to raise Russia's economy "to a fundamentally new technological level", increase the country's birth rate and living standards, build more roads and pursue other development goals.

"Of course, we are adjusting some of our plans in light of the current situation... We are going through a difficult period, but it has taught us many lessons," the Russian leader said.

"I repeat: Russia can only exist as a strong and independent state. Otherwise, there will be no Russia," Putin concluded.

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