Putin: Russia will not abandon independent policy

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would not give running independent policies. According to him, the events in Ukraine were the culmination of negative trends that had accumulated in world affairs over the years. 

"We warned about it a long time ago, and unfortunately, our forecasts come true," said Putin, speaking at a meeting of ambassadors and permanent representatives of the Russian Federation in Moscow. 

He also noted that the events in Ukraine confirmed that the West rejected Russia's independent policy. 

"Those who continue to consider themselves exceptional, dislike Russia's independent policy. The events in Ukraine have confirmed that, just as they confirmed that the model of relations with Russia built on the basis of double standards does not work," said Putin.