Putin: We will not run around the world with an outstretched hand

Speaking to the newly convened State Duma (lower chamber of the Russian parliament), Russian leader Vladimir Putin declared that Russia would not run around the world "begging for handouts with an outstretched hand".

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

Details: Addressing the Russian state budget – where deficits continue to grow annually – Putin claimed that it is necessary to "eliminate any populism that destroys us from within".

Quote: "Russia, unlike someone – we won't point fingers – cannot run around the world and humiliatingly beg for handouts with an outstretched hand. First, because, as I've already said, it is humiliating. Second, nobody will give us anything, we know this well. And third and most importantly, we don't need it. The Russian financial and economic systems feel confident.

The main thing is not to make any mistakes and to approach solving tasks in these extremely important spheres responsibly."

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 convocation of the State Duma includes 86 former combatants from the Russia-Ukraine war.

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