Russia won't tolerate infringement upon its interests, to determine its future without unwelcome advice - Putin
MOSCOW. Dec 1 (Interfax) - Russia will not tolerate attempts to infringe upon its national interests and does not need unwelcome suggestions and advice from the outside, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"We won't allow infringement of our interests or disregard for them. We want to and will determine our fortunes and build our present and future on our own, without someone else's suggestions and unwelcome advice," Putin said in an annual address to the Federal Assembly on Thursday.
"We have faced attempts to put pressure on us from the outside over the past several years. All possible methods have been employed, ranging from myths about Russian aggression, propaganda, and interference in our elections to the harassment of our athletes, including Paralympians," he said.
"Everyone is quite fed up already with informational campaigns made to order, the invention and injection of compromising materials, and bossy lectures. If need be, we can lecture someone ourselves," Putin said.
"We understand the measure of our responsibility and are indeed willing sincerely to be involved in resolving global and regional problems where our participation is appropriate, necessary, and welcome," he said.
"We don't want confrontation with anyone. Neither we, nor our partners, or the international community need this. Unlike our foreign counterparts, which see Russia as an adversary, we are not looking for and have never looked for enemies. We need friends," he said.
Russia is "open to a friendly and equitable dialogue and the establishment of principles of justice and mutual respect in international affairs, and it is prepared for an earnest conversation on building a stable system of international relations of the 21st century," Putin said.