HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is assailing “politically motivated” sanctions as a hidden form of trade protectionism ahead of the Group of 20 summit in Germany.
Putin wrote in a guest article for Thursday’s edition of German business daily Handelsblatt that “protectionism is developing into a behavioral norm.”
He added that “limits by one-sided, politically motivated sanctions on investment, trade and particularly technology transfer are becoming its hidden form.”
Putin said that such sanctions not only lead nowhere but “contradict the G-20 principles” of working together in the interests of all countries.
The European Union and United States have imposed sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine.
Putin and other G-20 leaders will meet in Hamburg Friday and Saturday.