Putin taunts west as Ukraine war rages, says economies of east & global south are outpacing the west

President Vladimir Putin downplays sanctions as the core of Russia–Kyrgyz ties, instead highlighting shared Soviet-era cultural bonds, Russian language status, migration, cheap energy supplies, and growing high-tech cooperation. He says Russia’s economic “turn to the East” began long before the Ukraine war due to faster growth in Asia, argues that European economies are now shrinking by choice, and adds that Moscow is open to renewed EU trade only if it doesn’t undercut new partners. Putin also praises Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov as a “reliable partner and trustworthy friend” after an elaborate cultural welcome.