Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said that Western plans to suffocate Russia's economy with sanctions have failed, reported Reuters. Putin accused the West of wanting to cut Russia up into different pieces and accused the West of pushing Ukraine into a conflict with Russia. 

Putin reiterated that Russia will reach all of its objectives in Ukraine and reiterated his threat that if anyone meddles in Ukraine, Russia's response will be "quick", with all necessary decisions on this already having been taken.