Putin complains: "I need to have a serious conversation with the West"

In a meeting between the Russian president and the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko said that the West was deluding: "There is inflation in the West, but they claim the truth is that 'Putin is to blame' - 'Putin is to blame for everything'."

Reuters

23/05/2022

Monday, 23 May 2022, 16:40 Updated: 16:56

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said today (Monday) that he should "have a serious conversation with the West" about the assumption that he is to blame for all the economic chaos caused by the war in Ukraine and the harsh sanctions imposed on Russia.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has so far killed thousands and displaced millions from their homes.

The West's attempt to isolate Russia as punishment for the siege imposed by Moscow on grain shipments from Ukraine's Black Sea ports has led to a spike in oil, gas, grain, cooking oil and fertilizer prices.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko sailing in the Black Sea in 2021 (Photo: Reuters)

In a televised meeting at the Black Sea site in Sochi, Putin told Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that the situation in Russia's economy was good, despite Western sanctions.

Lukashenko said sanctions had given both countries the momentum to focus on self-development, and that Western elites were deluding about the causes of global economic distress.

"As for the economy, the West is grateful because it gave us the impetus to develop ourselves," Lukashenko told Putin, smiling and shaking his head.

"What is happening there is that they did not value the economy properly because of their media. They have inflation, but the truth is that 'Putin is to blame', 'Putin is to blame for everything,'" Lukashenko said.

Putin shook his head and said with a forced smile, "We need to have a serious conversation with them," he replied.

Lukashenko grinned and said "yes."

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