Putin-Europe Can Help Ukraine At Expense Of Its Own Economy & People

During a fireside chat at the Valdai Discussion Club plenary session, President Vladimir Putin says, with regard to the prospect of a cutback in US military and financial support for Ukraine, stats that "Europe will be able to help Ukraine without the US...But there are problems with budgets in the West, no one wants to cut social spending." Says "For Europe, the economic situation is more difficult than in the US...We are seeing stagnation in Europe's main economies."

• Putin: "We see many industries are moving from Europe to the US...European people are feeling the pressure...Europe can help Ukraine at the expense of its own economy and people."

• On the Russian economy states that "We hope the budget deficit will shrink....Russia's economy is living through structural changes...On the whole, situation is stable. We have overcome all problems related to sanctions. But we have problems, including labour shortages...Central bank and gov't are taking measures to cackle difficulties...Defence and security spending have doubled."