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The leading economies of Western Europe are experiencing “difficult times,” Russia’s president says Russia has shown true resilience by not bowing to foreign pressure, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. He stated that Russia is a “self-sufficient country,” whose economy is growing despite the sanctions, while EU member states are living through “difficult times.”

Payments using Mir cards can now be made throughout Venezuela, Yvan Gil Pinto has said Russia’s Mir payment system is now accepted throughout Venezuela, the country’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto announced on Thursday.