Key facts
- Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Western sanctions.
- Putin stated that sanctions are harmful to the global economy.
- Putin dismissed Western criticism that Russia's economic engine had stalled.
- Putin rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's offer to meet.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Western sanctions, stating they are harmful to the global economy and have had a negative impact worldwide. Speaking at Russia's flagship economic forum, Putin dismissed Western criticism that his country's economic engine had stalled. He rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's offer to meet and appeared more interested in boosting relations with the American right. At the St. Petersburg economic forum, business and political elites said Russia faced a choice of halting the conflict or sacrificing more, with Putin seeming to signal more war. Despite sanctions, Russia's elite have adapted their globe-spanning lifestyles.