Putin: We’re not going to run all over the world begging for handouts

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has told the newly convened State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, that Russia will not be running around the world "begging for handouts".

Source: Putin's speech at the first session of the new convocation of the Russian State Duma

Details: Addressing the issue of Russia's budget, which is in an ever-mounting deficit, Putin declared that "any populism that destroys us from within must be eliminated".

Quote: "Unlike certain people – we're not going to point fingers – Russia cannot go running around the world with an outstretched hand and humiliatingly beg for handouts. Firstly because, as I've said, it's humiliating. Secondly, nobody will give us anything – we know that perfectly well. And thirdly and most importantly, we don't need to. Russia's financial and economic systems are feeling confident.

The main thing is not to make any mistakes and to take a responsible approach to solving tasks in these extremely important areas."

Background:

• On 20 September, three days of voting in the elections for Russia's State Duma ended.
• The ruling United Russia party secured a record 355 out of 450 seats in the Russian parliament.
• In August, the Supreme Court of Russia removed the Yabloko party – the only anti-war party on the ballot – from the elections.
• The new State Duma includes 86 former combatants from the Russia-Ukraine war.

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