MOSCOW. Dec 22 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that no attempt to "intimidate … deter or isolate Russia" would be successful.
"The global situation is far from stable. There is an increasing range of threats and risks, international law is ignored, and all means are employed - blackmail, provocation, economic and information pressure, use of nationalist groups, attempts to destabilize the domestic situation, - to take control of whole countries," Putin said at a celebration of Security Services Day at the State Kremlin Palace on Saturday.
He said it was being said openly and increasingly frequently that Russia must "pay dearly for its independent position, for its support for its compatriots, for Crimea, for Sevastopol, - sometimes it seems just for the fact that we exist."
"It is obvious that no one will be able to intimidate us, to deter or isolate Russia. No one has ever been or will ever be able to," the president said.
He said such attempts had repeatedly been made over centuries, and more than once in the 20th century.
"There was no success, nor will there be any now. However, we must be ready to go through some difficulties and always give a proper response to any threats to our sovereignty, stability and public unity," Putin said.