ST. PETERSBURG, June 1. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes that Russophobic sentiment throughout the globe will eventually vanish leaving the world to understand that like all prejudice it is counterproductive.

"How long will it last for?" he asked the heads of the leading news agencies in reply to a question from TASS at the economic forum in St. Petersburg.

"I do hope that this won’t be endless and that this won’t drag on because an understanding must eventually emerge that this is counterproductive and harms everyone. Not only does it harm us, but it also hurts those who initiate such policies. The way I see it, this awareness is approaching. We do see certain changes in the situation. The changes are for the better and I hope that this trend will continue." 

The causes of Western Russophobia 

The West’s Russophobia comes from the rise of a multi-polar world, which monopolists greatly dislike, Vladimir Putin said when asked by TASS for how long such an attitude to Russia in the world might last.

"I would like to say a few words about the causes of what is happening. They are quite obvious. In some countries it is overflowing. This is related to the emergence of a multi-polar world, which the monopolists dislike," he said. "As known, monopoly is a bad thing, but monopolists always press for it in all industries and in all spheres of our life."

Putin recalled that the advent of a multi-polar world was largely the result of Russia’s efforts to safeguard its legitimate interests." He said Russia’s partners in a number of countries "have begun to make attempts to contain Russia, to resist its legitimate wish to ensure its national interests and in doing so they resort to all sorts of actions, including economic restrictions that do not correspond to the framework of international law."

"Now they are able to see that this has not worked, that the effect is zero, and this rouses frustration and the desire to attain the original aims at any cost, to fan tensions. To the regret of those who do such things, we avoid providing them with the slightest occasion for this, but they keep looking for an excuse there where there is none," Putin said.

The president said that he hoped Russophobic sentiment throughout the globe wouldn't drag on indefinitely and the world would eventually come to its senses and realize that this is counterproductive.