Putin calls anti-Russian sanctions imposed by West ‘illegitimate way of competition’

“It has always been like this in our history: once Russia becomes a powerful and strong state, our partners begin to panic and attempt to hinder the country’s development.

“It is just a way of competition, an illegitimate one, an unfair one, but it is just the way it is. [It is also] an attempt to contain the growth of our defense capability,” Putin said in a documentary film, directed by Russian journalist Vladimir Solovyev.Speaking about U.S. restrictions, in particular, Putin stressed that they were a sign of Washington’s weakness and a manifestation of its incompetence.

“[The U. S.] has included all at once…