Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that Moscow will not yield to pressure from the United States or any other foreign power. He also cautioned that Russia would deliver an “overwhelming” response to any military strikes on its territory.
The remarks followed sanctions imposed on Russia’s two largest oil companies by U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, representing a significant shift in U.S. policy regarding Russia’s involvement in Ukraine. The sanctions contributed to a nearly 5% increase in global oil prices and prompted India to consider reducing imports of Russian oil.
Putin described Western sanctions as an “unfriendly” act, saying they
“will have certain consequences, but they will not significantly affect our economic well-being.”
He added that Russia’s energy sector remains confident.
“This is, of course, an attempt to put pressure on Russia,” Putin said.
“But no self-respecting country and no self-respecting people ever decides anything under pressure.”
In a lighter moment, he joked about sanctions potentially affecting Russian toilet exports and recalled that Trump had imposed significant sanctions during his first term. He further warned that disruptions to Russia’s oil exports—the country being the world’s second-largest oil exporter—could lead to a sharp rise in oil prices, including at U.S. gas stations, which could create political challenges for Washington.
Although the short-term financial impact on Russia may be limited, the sanctions signal an effort to pressure the Kremlin toward a peace settlement. It remains uncertain whether India will reduce purchases of Russian crude.
Trump, who has previously described Russia as a “paper tiger,” canceled a planned summit with Putin. The U.S. Treasury’s sanctions targeted two of Russia’s largest oil companies. Putin noted that the summit and the proposed location in Budapest were suggested by Trump.
“What can I say? Dialogue is always better than some kind of confrontation, than some kind of dispute or, even more so, war,” Putin said.
When asked about reports that the U.S. has lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s use of certain long-range missiles and remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding domestic missiles with a range of 3,000 km (1,900 miles), Putin described it as “an attempt at escalation.”
“But if such weapons are used to attack Russian territory, the response will be very serious, if not overwhelming. Let them think about it,” he added.
