By Ben Aris in Berlin Russian President Vladimir Putin said on February 21 that Western sanctions have played a “stimulating role” in Russia’s economic development, rather than bring it to its knees.

Washington led an international campaign for tough economic penalties after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Dozens of countries have punished Russian banks, businesses and oligarchs. They froze $300 billion of Russia’s assets, barred it from much of the global financial system and restricted what it could buy and sell.

European Union (EU) officials have agreed on a fresh round of sanctions against Russia, marking the 16th package of economic and trade restrictions since the start of the Ukraine conflict. The latest measures,