You're reading: Putin says economic difficulties not payment for Crimea

The current difficult economic situation in Russia is not a payment for incorporating Crimea but a payment for Russia's desire to preserve itself as a nation and a state, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

“This is not a payment for Crimea, this is a payment for our natural desire to preserve ourselves as a nation, as a civilization, and as a state,” Putin said at an annual press conference in Moscow on Dec.18.

“Following the fall of the Berlin Wall and following the Soviet Union’s breakup, we absolutely opened ourselves up to our partners,” he said.

“What did we see? Full and direct support of terrorism in the North Caucasus. Do partners act this way? I won’t go into detail now, but these are facts, and everyone knows this,” he said.