China News Service, May 28 (Reporter Meng Xiangjun) Oil, natural gas, edible oil, grain, fertilizer, everything in Europe and the United States is rising in price, and people's wallets continue to shrink.
"There is inflation in Western countries, but they think that Putin is the culprit, and Putin should be responsible for everything." Recently, Belarusian President Lukashenko pointed out this point during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin said that despite being sanctioned by the West, Russia's economic situation is still good, and the exclusion of the West will not make Russia withdraw from the world economic stage.
Russia will not "bear the blame" for the West's own mistakes, but hopes to make contributions to alleviating the food crisis.
In addition, on May 26, Putin also proposed a heavy initiative, which was regarded as a "big move" to counter Western economic sanctions.
What does this initiative contain and what does it mean?
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
["Putin's price increase", Biden did it]
A few months ago, as the US consumer price index (CPI) continued to rise, US President Biden coined a term "Putin's Price Hike" (Putin's Price Hike) and began to use it publicly to "bump the blame" for the high inflation in the United States to Russia.
Biden said that "70% of the increase in US prices should be attributed to Putin's increase in gasoline prices", and Russia's military action in Ukraine is the reason for the rise in global gas and food prices.
"This is the market's reaction to Putin's aggressive actions. American households are starting to feel the effects of 'Putin's price increase'".
In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova responded by saying, "One will say that Putin influenced the US presidential election, and one will say that Putin caused their high prices." "Biden should be more clear: American inflation The reason is that the liberal economy has not weathered the pandemic, and the 'efforts' of his and his team have contributed to that outcome."
On May 24, local time, due to the continued shortage of infant formula in the United States, a mother in California went to Tijuana, Mexico, to buy baby formula in a local supermarket.
Accompanied by high inflation, the American people are in a really bad mood along the way.
Nearly half of Americans are facing financial hardship due to rising fuel and food prices, the survey showed.
Not only that, the supply chain "dropped the chain", which has also led to the recent outbreak of a "milk powder shortage" in the United States. Parents snapped up everywhere to buy milk. Babies could not drink milk, and public complaints were high.
Who is to blame?
The US "Wall Street Journal" pointed out in an editorial that before the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the US inflation rate in January 2022 has reached 7.5%.
"Biden can blame Putin for many things, but not him for inflation." The editorial also believes that the root cause of inflation lies in the United States itself: "The government has implemented two years of loose monetary policy, explosive Federal spending stimulates economic demand."
Looking at the CPI data in the United States for more than half a year, everything can be traced: ↓↓
2021
In October, the CPI rose 6.1% year-on-year;
In November, it rose 6.8% year-on-year;
In December, it was up 7% year-on-year;
2022
In January, it rose 7.5% year-on-year;
In February, it rose 7.9% year-on-year;
In March, it rose 8.5% year-on-year, the fastest growth rate in the United States in 40 years;
In April, it increased by 8.3% year-on-year, slightly lower than that in March.
Regardless of whether such an increase is "steady", let's see if the U.S. CPI has experienced the largest increase in more than half a year before the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The answer is yes: 0.7 percentage points.
What's more, after the conflict, the Biden administration also initiated economic sanctions against Russia and banned the import of energy from Russia, which caused energy prices to soar.
[Food crisis, "Putin did it"? 】
Putin has already responded that the rise in Western energy prices "is the result of their own mistakes, and there is nothing to blame us." He pointed out that the United States has deceived its own people time and time again, while the supply of Russian oil to the U.S. market is minimal, not even more than 3 %.
Seeing that the "pot" thrown out is about to fly back, the United States has launched a new accusation.
Recently, the United States and the West claimed that "Russia blocked Ukraine's export of grain", and the hat of "causing a global food crisis" was again detained on Putin's head.
US Secretary of State Blinken, Pentagon spokesman Kirby, British Foreign Minister Truss and others have accused Russia of "disregarding the hunger problem of the poorest people around the world" and using economic tools, food and aid "as weapons to blackmail the world", "leading to Global food supplies are shrinking and prices are soaring."
Secretary of State Blinken.
Blinken also called on Russia to stop blocking Ukrainian ports at the UN Security Council and allow Uzbekistan to export grains blocked at ports in the Black Sea.
On May 26, the Kremlin firmly rejected the cause of the global food crisis, and accused the West of sanctions against Russia as the source of the problem.
Putin also pointed out that it is "unreasonable" to blame Russia for the supply of agricultural products in the international market. "The current difficulties are related to the industrial chain, the disorder of the supply chain and the financial policies of Western countries during the epidemic."
Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, Nebenja, said, "The whole world blames Russia for all the suffering."
[Putin can help, but there are preconditions]
Although another "pot" came, Putin still said in a phone call with Italian Prime Minister Draghi that Russia is willing to "contribute" to alleviating the global food crisis by exporting grain and fertilizers.
On March 1, in the business hall of a local bank in Moscow, customers were waiting for business.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tian Bing
Combined with Putin's speech at the plenary video conference of the Eurasian Economic Forum and the remarks of Russian officials, three points can be made clear:
1. Russia has food in its hands and does not panic.
Putin pointed out that Russia is still the world's largest exporter of wheat and has absolute competitiveness in the international market.
Not long ago, Russia was still purchasing wheat, and now it has started to export.
The United States, Britain and other domestically produced more wheat, but the problem is that their domestic consumption is also large.
Second, Russia is not the "bane", the West is.
Russia believes that, contrary to what the West says, it is Western sanctions that hinder Ukrainian grain exports, which are being "looted".
The Kyiv regime's failure to cooperate with the release of foreign cargo ships stuck in the port also exacerbated the crisis.
Third, Russia is willing to contribute, the premise is that the West "does it".
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko said on the 25th that Moscow is ready to provide a humanitarian corridor to allow grain ships to leave Ukraine in exchange for the lifting of some Western sanctions.
Putin said that in order to ensure the safety of navigation, Russia has taken a series of measures to allow civilian ships to leave ports in the Azov Sea and the Black Sea, but Ukraine has blocked relevant arrangements.
Russia is ready to overcome difficulties and make its own contribution to alleviating the world food crisis, but only if the West lifts the sanctions imposed on Russia for political motives.
[Heavy initiative, strive for support]
On May 26, local time, the Eurasian Economic Union countries held the first Eurasian Economic Forum.
In his video speech at the plenary session, Putin pointed out the current situation facing Russia.
Putin's speech contains the following meanings:
Data map: Putin attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia.
First, the West wants to push Russia out of the game, but Russia will not let it do so.
Putin admits that advanced economies have an advantage in high technology, which is a matter of course, but Russia does not intend to withdraw from the world economic stage.
"No one can separate a country like Russia if we don't separate ourselves with some kind of wall."
Second, there is a solution. He proposed that Russia establish a "Greater Eurasian Partnership".
Putin said that the current global traditional economic and trade links and logistics chains are being destroyed, and Russia's initiative to establish a "Greater Eurasian Partnership" is of special significance.
Thirdly, this initiative is not a casual talk, and has already received international support.
Putin stressed that "the time has come" to implement the "Greater Eurasian Partnership" initiative.
According to Putin, members of at least four international organizations currently support the initiative:
· Eurasian Economic Union
· BRICS
·Shanghai Cooperation Organization
· ASEAN
Putin believes that based on this partnership, countries will develop equal cooperation.
"The Greater Eurasian Partnership calls for a change in the existing political and economic structure, which will be the guarantee of stability and prosperity in Eurasia," he said.
[The "big move" is coming? 】
What do you think?
This may be one of Putin's real counterattack "big moves".
First look at Putin's choice of occasions.
Putin's proposal in public must be well thought out.
The first forum of the Eurasian Economic Union established in 2015 is itself a new signal.
The members of the alliance include Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.
The one-day forum was held in Bishkek on May 26, with the theme of Eurasian economic integration and new investment opportunities.
More than 2,500 delegates from 15 countries attended the forum.
Putin chose to put forward the initiative in such a gathering of regional countries that have closer relations with Russia. He has a high degree of confidence and will receive a good response, which is of special significance.
Secondly, look at the various positions of the Russian side.
Regarding the withdrawal of some foreign companies from Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated that Russia will not wait for foreign companies to come back by themselves, and "expect McDonald's to wait to come back and provide us with spare parts, components and semiconductors", which is equivalent to sitting still.
Putin pointed out that Russian companies will occupy the position of companies withdrawing from the country, and nothing will change.
Data map: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Wang Xiujun
According to Lavrov's assessment, Eurasia is becoming "the most promising region in the world", and Russia should participate in its construction.
The West is trying to "damage" alliances within the framework of regional international organizations involving Russia in order to strengthen its influence in Central Asia. Of course, Russia cannot ignore it.
As a result, Russia "has substantially increased the share of trade in services provided in the local currency of partner countries, such as with China, India, Iran, and within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union."
Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Manturov pointed out that hyperinflation is occurring in Western Europe and the United States, which "suggests how we need to reorganize logistics and production cooperation to develop our economy - this is de-dollarization, and now it has added de-euroization. ".
The Russian side suggested that the Eurasian Economic Union, the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization partner countries expand local currency settlements.
Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Volvac also said that the use of local currency in the internal settlement of the Eurasian Economic Union does not require any external force or incentives.
Today “the world is diversifying itself” and “the market chooses those contracts and currencies that it deems reliable.”
It also depends on what the regional countries say.
Kyrgyzstan holds the rotating presidency of the Eurasian Economic Union in 2022. Kyrgyz President Zaparov said that despite facing external unfavorable factors and epidemic prevention restrictions, the Union's GDP will increase by 4.6% in 2021, and the trade volume within the Union will increase by 32%.
In a phone call with Russian Prime Minister Mishustin, Kazakh Prime Minister Smaylov expressed the two countries' intention to deepen the integration of the Eurasian Economic Union.
In addition, at this economic forum, participants have signed 17 cooperation project agreements.
Data map: A foreign exchange exchange on the streets of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
Overall, this event may signal three signals:
First, the "de-dollarization" process of Russia's joint regional countries will be accelerated again.
This is not a slogan, but a reality.
Eurasian Economic Commission spokeswoman Markina said the ratio of domestic currency settlements within the member states of the union has reached 75%.
This shows that it is far more than Russia that realizes that it wants to weaken the control of the dollar.
The hegemony of the US dollar will be further challenged.
Second, Russia is teaming up with neighboring countries to seek to deepen alliance relations and enhance resistance to pressure.
According to Putin, the Eurasian Economic Union, BRICS, SCO and ASEAN all support Russia in building a "Greater Eurasian Partnership".
This not only means that Russia's economic policy is undergoing major adjustments, but also highlights the need for regional countries to recognize and "warm together" with Russia.
Third, geopolitical pressures in the Asia-Pacific region will rise.
Under the siege of the West, Russia, which was "blocked" in Europe, was forced to speed up its "eastward advance" to break through.
From Central Asia to the Far East, the entire Asia-Pacific plate may be subject to greater geopolitical pressure due to the influence of Russia and the United States.
(Finish)