Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that EU sanctions against his country are one-sided and harmful to all, adding that all sides will benefit from lifting them.
Speaking in Austria, Putin said Russia had restored stable growth, despite the EU and US sanctions first imposed in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea.
This is the first foreign visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin after he entered the office on May 7 for the current presidential term, timed to the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the export of domestic gas to Austria.
Russian president Vladimir Putin in an interview with Austria’s ORF broadcasting corporation has said that under no circumstances would he give Crimea back to Ukraine.
Crimea voted to break away from Ukraine and become part of Russia following the coup in Kiev.
Putin’s decision on Crimea is believed to have significantly increased his popularity as many Russians see him as a leader who restored their country’s status as a global super power while resisting US interference in its backdoor.
