Putin Insists on Improved Economic Development in Response to Sanctions

By Jenny Park

In an annual televised call-in, President Putin acknowledged that the West is unlikely to lift its economic sanctions against Russia any time soon. Nonetheless, Putin is undeterred. He predicted that Russia's economy could return to growth in less than two years and that the Russian economy will “reach new levels of development” in response to EU sanctions. While conceding the negative effects of EU sanctions, Putin insists upon Russia’s ability to adapt with growing technological developments, prompting faster rates of growth. Watch an excerpt of the interview on BBC.