MOSCOW, July 09. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia will persistently defend its national interests, but “without descending into self-isolationism”, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Civic Chamber members on Wednesday.

“We will always be part of the world community, but it is complex, not uniform,” the president said. “We must correctly define our national interests, we have learned to do this the same way as we learn from past generations, including the victorious generation — to defend these interests persistently, but reasonably, cautiously,” the president said.

Putin also admitted that “the West is not uniform — there are different people and different countries in it”. “Nobody, never and nowhere wants to have strong competitors,” he reminded the audience, noting that “international life is a competitive fight, it has always been the same, and our time is not an exception“.

Russia's Civic Chamber is an advisory, consultative body established on President Vladimir Putin’s initiative to analyze draft legislation and monitor the activities of parliament, government and other state bodies. It comprises Russian citizens who have performed special services to the state and society, selected by the president.