Putin: Russia won't blindly follow West on Ukraine

13:21, 04.12.2014 1 min read

Russia will not blindly go in the West's footsteps in its policy on Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"What is all this tragedy in Ukraine for? Was it really that difficult to settle all issues, even debatable ones, through dialogue, within a legal framework and legitimate processes? However, they are trying hard now to persuade us that this is exactly what sensible and balanced politics is, which we should obey thoughtlessly and blindly. It isn't going to be so," Putin said in an address to the Federal Assembly on Thursday.

"If national pride for some European countries is a long-forgotten notion and sovereignty an unaffordable luxury, then real national sovereignty for Russia is an absolutely essential precondition for existence," he said.