Putin: Russia continues to develop despite Western sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin held his annual televised "Direct Line" Q&A session on Wednesday, saying Russia will continue to develop no matter what sanctions Western countries impose on and what threats they make.

"Russia's economic sovereignty is increasing and its defense capabilities have reached a very high level," Putin said.

He said the Russian economy has adapted to the sanctions pressure, which in some ways is beneficial as the import substitution program has boosted Russia's agricultural and high-tech sectors.

Putin stressed the era of absolute hegemony is over and the world is changing drastically.

However, the United States still tries to do everything to preserve its dominance, and hence there are threats and destructive behaviors through military exercises, provocations and sanctions, he said.

"If they cross some boundaries, we will take asymmetric responses that will be sensitive enough for our partners," Putin said.

Wednesday's Direct Line with Putin began at 12:07 Moscow time and lasted for three hours and 42 minutes. According to the Rossiya-24 television channel, more than 2.2 million questions were received via various communications channels. Most were about Russia's domestic problems and the coronavirus pandemic this year.

It was Putin's 19th Q&A session. Putin spoke to Russians from a studio at Moscow's World Trade Center, with no audience in the studio due to coronavirus restrictions.