Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday criticized US efforts to maintain global dominance and ordered officials to boost weapons production amid fighting in Ukraine. Speaking while receiving credentials from foreign ambassadors in Moscow, Putin said that “objective development towards a multipolar world faces resistance from those who try to maintain their hegemony in world affairs and control everything — Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa”. He added that “the ruler has been able to do this for some time, but it cannot continue forever … regardless of developments in Ukraine.” Putin has repeatedly voiced his decision to send troops to Ukraine in response to alleged Western encroachment on Russia’s vital security interests. The Russian leader described Western sanctions against Russia over its actions in Ukraine as part of efforts by the US and its allies to shore up their positions, but accused them of failing against their organizers and also hurting poor countries. “As far as Russia is concerned, we will not deviate from our sovereign course,” Putin said. Speaking later during a separate meeting on military industries, he said that Russian weapons have shown high effectiveness during the fighting in Ukraine and told officials to quickly increase the production of military industries. “Our equipment effectively counters Western types of weapons,” Putin said. “Virtually all of NATO’s weapons stockpile has been built up to support the current regime in Kyiv.” Putin added that Russia should study Western weapons to improve its own arsenals. “We can and must learn about these arsenals, everything they have, everything they use against us to qualitatively increase our capabilities and improve our equipment, our weapons where we need to,” he noted. Putin said he had ordered increased funding for new weapons, more loans to military industries and additional payments to their workers to boost weapons production. “The structures of the military-industrial complex must deliver the required weapons and equipment as soon as possible,” Putin said.
