MOSCOW, 26 February, 2021 (TON): Amid a growing number of international threats, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that his country is facing foreign pressure in the form of a continued "policy of containment" aimed at provoking internal instability, weakening the economy and interfering in the country's internal affairs.

"A consistent and highly aggressive policy aimed at disrupting the country's development, and creating problems along our external perimeter and contour, provoking internal instability, undermining the values that unite Russian society," the president warned during his meeting with the Federal Security Service (FSB) Board on Thursday.

This foreign pressure, the president said, is not of a healthy competitive nature but rather part of a series of direct actions aimed at forcing Russia to succumb to external control.

In this context, the president thanked the FSB for providing timely information concerning planned external "provocations."

He also emphasized that the country will always protect its sovereignty and national interests, ensure the security of its citizens and protect the rights of the people to decide their future.

The analysts view it as alongside blatant aggressive rhetoric groundless claims, and conspiracy-theory-like accusations used in foreign targeted information campaigns against Russia, direct actions such as economic sanctions and the disruption of large international projects are destabilizing the economy.