Vladimir Putin has today claimed Russia's economy has grown stronger since the imposition of sanctions on its affiliates.
He hailed what he called its newfound "economic sovereignty" and said its financial systems were in a better position despite Western expectations it would collapse.
"It turned out, for many of us, and even more so for Western countries, that the fundamental foundations of Russia's stability are much stronger than anyone thought," he told factory workers in a helicopter manufacturing facility.
"We have increased our economic sovereignty many times over.
"After all, what did our enemy count on? That we would collapse in two to three weeks or in a month."