Xi and Putin slam 'politically motivated' Western sanctions against Russia

The US-led Western nations have imposed crippling sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine

Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 22 hit out at the US and European Union for imposing sanctions against Russia, saying the act of wilfully imposing curbs will harm people around the world. 

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the "politically motivated" Western sanctions on his country have caused global economic challenges like decrease in business activity and a spike in unemployment.

In his address to a business conference of the BRICS hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin also said that Russia was in the process of rerouting its trade and oil exports towards countries from the