Putin: Our economy is doing well, Russians are returning to Russia

(Patria) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday declared the end of "neocolonialism" in international politics and praised Russia's economic strategy after severing ties with the West, AFP reported.

The Russian leader addressed the annual economic forum in St. Petersburg.

"The ugly neocolonial system of international relations has ceased to exist, while the multipolar world order is strengthening," Putin said. "This is inevitable," he added. Putin has repeatedly condemned the United States' dominance in international politics and sought to portray Moscow's aggression in Ukraine as a battle against a decadent West. He accused Western countries of refusing dialogue with Russia and suggested that the West would want to hold talks in the future.

"And we will see at what point and about what we can talk with them," Putin said.

Speaking about the Russian economy, he admitted that the second quarter of last year was the "most difficult" as the West punished Russia with unprecedented sanctions.

"Today we can say with certainty: the strategy chosen then by both the state and Russian business has succeeded," he added. He claims that about half of the Russians who left the country after the start of the war in Ukraine have already returned.

"This process continues, but if someone wants to live elsewhere - as you see fit," Putin said.

Many Russians now live in the United Arab Emirates, as well as in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, he added. "I don't see anything wrong with that, let people live where it suits them," Putin said.

The slogan of this year's forum was "Sovereign Development is the Foundation of a Just World," the Kremlin announced.