2023-09-15 18:28:00
Putin criticizes US sanctions, military threats in comments on Ukraine peace talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin is criticizing the United States for its alleged use of economic sanctions, financial restrictions and threats of military force to achieve its goals on the global stage.
Commenting on a statement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Putin referred to international relations as a dance and said Americans “don’t know how to dance this tango.”
“The United States is trying to resolve everything from a position of strength or with the help of economic sanctions or financial restrictions, with the threat of military force, or by using it,” Putin said this Friday.
Expanding on the dance analogy, Putin emphasized the importance of Ukraine remembering “hopak,” a traditional Ukrainian folk dance, alluding to the need for Ukraine to maintain its independence from outside influences.
“I think it is important for Ukraine not to forget about hopak. This is the important thing, otherwise they will dance to someone else’s tune all the time,” he said, answering media questions after a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi.
Putin reiterated that Russia has never refused to negotiate.
“Therefore, if the other party wants, they should say so directly,” he added.
In turn, Lukashenko claimed that the United States was instructing Ukraine not to “tango” with Russia and “therefore, they have no reason to blame others,” he said.
Some context: The United States has been working to continue its pressure on Moscow through new sanctions as cracks emerged this summer in Russia’s economy and society due to the unprecedented war and sanctions against the regime by the United States and its Western allies.
On Thursday, the Biden administration announced its latest tranche of sanctions against the Kremlin that target Russian elites who profit from the war as well as sectors critical to Moscow’s military effort.
Additionally, following a meeting between Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the United States is also targeting elites and families involved in deepening relations between Russia and North Korea. The United States has been warning of a deal between the two countries that could provide Russia with weapons in exchange for ballistic missile technology.
CNN’s Sam Fossum and Michael Conte contributed reporting to this publication.
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