Putin says Russia is facing a "sanctions war"

BY A STAFF REPORTER: Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused western countries of waging a "war of sanctions" on Russia. "It's 4.7 per cent (GDP decline) due to the sanctions war, the unprecedented challenges to the global economy and the international relations system," Putin said. As Russia is shifting its economy to countries that have not imposed sanctions, he called on business leaders to help build a new Russian economy and thanked them for their efforts to support the Russian state. "In the pre-revolutionary era, over the past decade, Russian entrepreneurs have always played a major constructive role in Russia, playing a great role in the development of new territories, social security and charities," Putin said. They are the pride of our country. "