President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (04/12/2014) accused the West of exploiting the Ukraine crisis to undermine Russia and said in a key speech that Crimea had “sacred” significance for Russia.
Addressing hundreds of dignitaries, lawmakers and officials in his annual state of the nation address at the Kremlin, Putin said however that Russia would not sever ties with the West despite raging confrontation with Brussels and Washington over the Ukraine conflict.
“Every time someone believes Russia has become too strong, independent, these instruments get applied immediately,” Putin said, referring to sanctions.
The West “would have thought up some other excuse to contain Russia’s …read more
Source: Herald LIVE