Putin says the West is trapped in an inescapable dilemma: Russia's economy has performed far better than expected.

[Putin's Latest Press Conference: The West Has Fallen into an Inescapable Dilemma]

At Moscow time on the evening of May 9, 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated during a press conference:

The West originally expected Russia to suffer a catastrophic defeat, claiming that Russia's state machinery would collapse within a few months. But their expectations failed to materialize. Then they found themselves trapped in this dilemma—unable to escape.

Putin added:

By the way, we are the G20 country with the lowest unemployment rate—so far at 2.2%. The Western nations had anticipated that Russia would quickly collapse within six months of 2022, with its banking system collapsing and unemployment remaining high. Everyone hoped to gain something from Russia—to "grab" something, pardon my blunt wording.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864739628211204/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.