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Putin calls for respecting international law instead of imposing sanctions

The Russian leader recalled that sanctions affected both Russia’s and the European Union’s economies

ST. PETERSBURG, April 9. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for observing international law instead of meddling in other countries’ affairs and imposing sanctions that are detrimental to all.

"Concerning the very nature of sanctions. To begin with, any sanctions, if they are legitimate, should be authorized by the UN Security Council. However, this is not the case, which means that they are illegitimate," he said during a plenary session of the International Arctic Forum.

"For some reason, no one imposes sanctions for meddling in other countries’ domestic affairs, disorganizing internal political life, destabilizing countries. No one imposes sanctions against those who exacerbate the situation so that other countries have to take certain measures to protect their interests," the head of state added. That said, Putin called for returning to respect for norms of international law.

"Maybe then there will be no need to think about the aftermath of bombing Yugoslavia or some other issues related to flagrant violations of international law," the president stressed, adding that the world was interdependent and that it was essential to work together to achieve common results. The Russian leader recalled that sanctions affected both Russia’s and the European Union’s economies.