Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that the sanctions received as a result of the military offensive in Ukraine “may have a negative impact” to the evolution of the Russian economy, although he defended that in general there is a “positive” trend.

Putin, who this Wednesday met with members of his government to take stock of the economic situation and highlight the generally positive aspects, even advocating that Western companies exit from The Russian market has opened new “niches” who are now trying to take advantage of local firms.

He also pointed to increase in domestic demand as “the main factor of growth”while defending the importance of opening up new avenues of trade relations outside the West, the TASS news agency reported.

“Returning to the path of growth should not make us relax,” he warned in a speech in which he pointed out that “illegal restrictions” imposed last year could negative consequences in the medium term.

At the same time, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen underlined this Wednesday the “unprecedented step” of the International Criminal Court by issuing arrest warrant for Putin which means that now the world “less” for the president, as he risks being arrested in more than 120 countries.

During the debate in the plenary session of the European Parliament on the results of the last meeting of the European Council, the leader of the European Executive welcomed the arrest warrant issued by the court in The Hague after the conviction of lRussian war crimes in Ukraine.

“This is an unprecedented step. This decision made the world much smaller for Putin. If you are traveling to any of the 123 countries cooperating with the International Criminal Court, you risk being arrested“, he revealed.

The German “people” insisted that the Russian president would now have problems traveling to Africa, Asia, Europe or South America. “It will pose an incalculable risk to him,” he said, referring to the theft of 16,000 Ukrainian children at the hands of the Russian authorities and the need to deal with these war crimes.