Russian sanctions are not just retaliation but support for domestic producers - Putin

YALTA, August 14 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russian sanctions are not just retaliatory measures, but a means to support domestic producers and open up the domestic market to new partners. “They are not just retaliatory steps. In the first place they are measures to support the domestic producers and to open up our markets to the countries and producers who are eager to cooperate with Russia and prepared for such cooperation,” the head of state said at a meeting with State Duma members in the seaside Crimean resort of Yalta on Thursday. He recalled that the decisions on Russian sanctions had been taken in relation to the countries that had earlier imposed “utterly groundless and illegal sanctions” on Russia. Putin added that regardless of the foreign political and foreign economic situation “the most important thing for us now is internal affairs, our tasks and goals that the people of Russia, the citizens of Russia set to us.” Putin explained that the authorities should focus on the solution of national problems. “Our future is in our own hands,” Putin said with certainty. He believes that it is of extreme importance to ensure the highest quality of state governance and “most importantly, a high quality of Russian citizens’ life.” Learn more on itar-tass.com