Russian President Vladimir Putin has said in a statement that the country expects relations with Ukraine to be restored once the “special military operation” is completed.

“Sooner or later, the situation will return to normal”, Putin said in an interview with Kazakh President Qasim-Zomart Tokayev.

The Russian President also assured that Moscow is not opposed to a possible accession of Ukraine to the European Union.

“We have nothing against it, it is their decision whether or not to join economic unions (…) It is their business, it is a matter for the Ukrainian people”, he said.

Russia, which has invaded Ukraine since February 24, sees Kiev’s ambition to join NATO as a threat to its security.

“But in terms of their economic integration, it is their (Ukrainians’) choice”, Putin said. “The EU is not a military alliance, unlike NATO”, he explained.

Nevertheless, the Russian President said that “Ukraine will become a half-colony” of Western countries if it joins the EU. “That is my view,” he added.

During Putin’s press conference with the President of Kazakhstan, he appeared ready to restore relations with the world and described the United States as “a world leader with a great future”.

“We are ready to build relationships with everyone, despite today’s events – this is the first thing we are interested in.

“Secondly, only the army and the navy can guarantee our security”, he said.

Regarding the USA, he commented that the American elites often look down on everyone, but “this is a country with a great future”.

“The political elite in the United States looks at everyone from above, with inflated complacency. I have already talked about that. However, this attitude does not rule out the fact that the United States is a great power. This is a country that has become a world leader. This is worthy of respect. Without a doubt, this is a country with a great future. I have no doubt about that. But the internal problems, the mistakes of the ruling elites, certainly make their presence felt. Precisely because internal problems are increasing”, Putin said, adding that “Americans will eventually put this elite aside”.

About an hour late, due to a cyber attack, Putin took the floor at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum and spoke about the economic situation in which his country has found itself after the sanctions of Europe and the United States.

The Russian president accused the West of “shamelessly imposing its morals and culture, manipulating everything, including sports and the Olympic movement”, while speaking about the USA, he claimed that “they behave as if they do not notice that there are other strong centers of power in the world.

“When they won the Cold War, the United States declared itself God’s representatives on Earth, people with no responsibilities – only interests”.

He went on to say that the ominous forecasts for the Russian economy that were heard in the early spring were not verified.

According to him, the rumors that circulated about the dollar-ruble exchange rate and “other Western forecasts are part of the information struggle against Russia”.

Referring to the domestic economy, Putin noted that 16.7% is a large inflation rate, but “the authorities will work to reduce it, the economic dynamics will stabilize”.

“The sudden economic war against Russia had no chance of success”, Putin said, predicting that inequalities would widen further in Europe and, as a result, society would split due to mistakes in the economy.

“European politicians have dealt a severe blow to their economy with their own hands. The European Union’s immediate losses from the sanctions fever alone could exceed $400 billion in a year. This is the price of decisions that are cut off from reality and taken against the common sense”, Putin said, adding that the cost was borne by the people.

According to the Russian President, the European Union has lost its political sovereignty, “its bureaucratic elites are dancing to the rhythm of someone else, harming their own population”.

At the same time, he said that “a failed energy policy contributed to the escalation of prices in Europe, Russia had nothing to do with the rise in energy prices, fuel began to rise in prices long before the special operation”.

Putin stressed that his colleagues in the West are trying to reverse the course of history, they are thinking in terms of the previous century, they have illusions and do not want to observe the changes.

“Our partners in the West are deliberately undermining international foundations in the name of their geopolitical illusions”, he said, adding that “today’s changes in economics and international politics are tectonic and revolutionary”.

Putin also said that there are many options for exporting Ukrainian grain, but only the Kiev authorities will decide how to do it “without focusing on the wishes of their ‘owners’ on the other side of the ocean”.

Putin also noted that “if the United States was a major supplier of food, now it has become a net importer – printing money and buying food from all over the world”.

In addition, he accused the West of supplying weapons to Ukraine. “Anyone who continues to cooperate with Russia is under pressure from the United States and Europe and is receiving immediate threats”, Putin said.

However, Russia will continue to interact with Western companies, which cooperate with Moscow. Commenting on the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, he said the decision was “difficult but necessary” and that “Russian troops are defending Russia’s rights to safe development” and that the operation was aimed at “defending the people of the Donbas region. All its duties will be fulfilled”.