Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected accusations that Moscow is fuelling mass protests across Europe, arguing that the unrest is the result of European governments' own mistakes in areas including the economy and finance.
Speaking to Russian state broadcaster Vesti, Putin addressed the protests as well as migration problems and developments in energy markets. He said claims that Russia had instigated mass demonstrations in major European cities were "really going too far," adding that he believed this was obvious to ordinary citizens in European countries. Blaming other countries instead of taking responsibility, he said, "shows the weakness of some European leaders."
Putin pointed to public finances, noting that in some European countries public debt exceeds 100 percent of gross domestic product, reaching 139 percent in Italy.
He also criticised Europe's migration policies, saying migrants who arrived in past years and their children had failed to integrate. "The number of migrants has reached such a level that they can no longer integrate into society. States are not in a position to ensure their integration either. Resources are insufficient," he said. Putin added that some migrants still could not speak the language of countries they had lived in for years and that Europe's Middle East policies had shaped the reactions of migrants from the region. Noting that Russia is also a multinational country, he said Europe's problems should not be mocked and that Moscow would pay greater attention to inter-ethnic relations.
On energy, Putin said Russia had never refused to supply Europe, stressing that it was European countries that decided to stop buying Russian oil, gas, coal and uranium. "They gave it up, and they are planning to give up the products they still buy from Russia," he said, while noting that Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) still accounts for 20 percent of the European market.
Describing the policy of banning everything coming from Russia as "stupid, completely stupid," Putin said life had shown it does not work. He added that some foreign companies had been forced to leave the Russian market under pressure from European governments.
