2023 BRICS Summit | Putin lashes out at west over sanctions

JOHANNESBURG - Russian President Vladimir Putin has lashed out at the west.

He says illegitimate sanctions are compounding the world's socio-economic challenges.

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Putin was speaking virtually at the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.

Many western countries imposed harsh sanctions on the country following the invasion of Ukraine.

"These challenges are complex tasks have to be dealt with amid the volatility in stocks, currency, energy and food markets coupled with strong inflation pressure stemming from irresponsible large scale money emission by a number of countries seeking to mitigate the effects of the pandemic which has led to the accumulation of private and public debt," Putin said.

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"International economy is also seriously affected by the illegitimate sanctions practice and illegal freezing of assets of sovereign states which essential amount to the tramping upon all the basic norms and rules of free trade and economic norms and rules that not so long seemed immutable.

"Resource shortages, increased inequality rising unemployment and aggravation of chronic problems of the world are the direct consequences."