No "Putin inflation" according to Russia: "Has nothing to do with it"

 No "Putin inflation" according to Russia: "Has nothing to do with it"

Of:

Linnea Digerstedt

PUBLISHED: TODAY 00.16

UPDATED: TODAY 11.32

NEWS

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has nothing to do with rising inflation.

At least not if you ask Vladimir Putin.

"Anyone who talks about 'Putin inflation' can neither read nor write," he said in a speech on Friday.

Rising food prices. High electricity fees. And more expensive fuel.

This week, Sweden reached the highest inflation in 31 years.

But none of that has to do with Russia's war in Ukraine, says Vladimir Putin, reports VG.

- Those who talk about a "Putin inflation" can neither read nor write. The Russian operation in Donbass has nothing to do with it, he said in a speech on Friday.

Criticizes the United States and the European Union

The speech given by Vladimir Putin at the annual economic forum in St. Petersburg was greatly delayed after a hacker attack on the event.

Once the president took the stage, he spoke of the sanctions against Russia, calling them "crazy and pointless."

"The economic blitzkrieg against Russia has not succeeded and never had a chance to succeed," Putin said.

Vladimir Putin spoke at the annual economic forum.

Vladimir Putin spoke at the annual economic forum.

Photo: Sergei Bobylev / AP

In his speech, he said that Russia's invasion had become something that the West could "blame all its problems on" and at the same time went hard on the United States.

- When they won the Cold War, the United States declared itself as God's own representatives on earth, people who have no responsibility only interests. They have declared these interests sacred. Now it is one-way traffic, which makes the world unstable.

The Russian president also spoke about how the EU "lost its sovereignty".

- Their members dance to someone else's tune and hurt their own population. The real interests of Europeans and European companies are completely ignored.

Devastation following a bombing in Donetsk.

Devastation following a bombing in Donetsk.

Photo: Alexei Alexandrov / AP

At the same time, he said that Russia does not mind Ukraine joining the EU.

- The EU is not a military-political union, unlike NATO, which is why we have always said, and I have always said that our position here is consistent, that we have nothing against it.

"Whether it will be an advantage or a disadvantage for Ukraine is their business," he said in a panel discussion after the speech.

Continues to defend the invasion

In his speech, he also defended the invasion of Ukraine and declared it a "decision of a sovereign state that has an unconditional right to defend its security", reports CNN.

- A decision aimed at protecting our citizens, the people of Donbass, who for eight years were subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime and neo-Nazis who received the full support of the West.

The war in Ukraine has soon been going on for four months.

Stock markets around the world have been pointing steadily downwards in recent times.

Stock markets around the world have been pointing steadily downwards in recent times.

Photo: Seth Wenig / AP