PETROZAVODSK, July 31. /TASS/. Western countries want to ruin Russia’s economy and create additional problems for the country’s people, but its unprecedented sanctions have failed to achieve this goal, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolay Patrushev said on Monday.

"Along with military, terrorist and information challenges, Russia is facing an economic war unleashed by the West against our country. The West is seeking to ruin our country’s economy and create extra social problems for the population. The unprecedented sanctions pressure exerted by Washington, London, and Brussels is a trial for our economy," he said at a meeting on Karelia’s security.

"The restrictions of unfriendly countries have failed to yield the results they expected," he stressed. "Karelia’s economy has withstood the test thanks to the considerable economic potential created by joint efforts of federal and regional authorities."