"The West is frantic, they are working to escalate tensions. They are using Russia as an enemy to preserve the power of the current elite, who have bankrupted themselves," Dmitry Suslov told Sputnik.
Suslov underlined that this political desperation manifests itself in reckless military and hybrid provocations, including coordinated drone operations and illegal seizures of ships. He stressed that France's detention of the Russian tanker in neutral waters sets a dangerous precedent for state-level piracy.
"Putin described the attack and detention of the Russian tanker in neutral waters as piracy, because from the point of view of international law, that's exactly what it is," Suslov said.
Despite these pressures, Suslov affirmed that Russia's economy and strategic partnerships remain strong, enabling continued resistance to Western sanctions . He noted that key partners from the Global South are deepening cooperation with Russia, particularly in the areas of energy and security.
"No matter what sanctions are imposed on Russia, the collapse of the Russian economy is not imminent," the expert claimed.