Putin says hopes for gradual removal of anti-Russian sanctions

MOSCOW, Jun 6 (PRIME) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin expects that anti-Russian sanctions will be gradually removed and relations with the U.S. and other states that supported restrictive measures will normalize, he said in an interview with China Media Group released on Wednesday.

“I believe that common sense will still prevail, that all illegal restrictions that are harmful to the development of the world economy will be gradually removed, and we will normalize our relations with all partners, including the U.S., and other countries that did their bidding and also imposed these sanctions,” Putin said.

Putin said that countries which supported the restrictive measures are starting to suffer from them.

“By the way, those who, as I said, did the U.S.’ bidding, are beginning to suffer from what the U.S. is starting to impose on these countries themselves. All this taken together gradually – and I am not gloating or being sarcastic – but it all speaks to the fact that these means cannot be universal, and sooner or later it will become obvious that their use harms everyone, including the initiators of these initiatives. In the end, I hope that our relations will normalize one way or another,” he said.

The restrictions will not force Russia to abandon its independent, sovereign part of development, Putin said.

“I believe that either Russia will be sovereign, or it will not exist at all,” he said.

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