Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that Russia has become the world’s biggest sanctions target at the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday. In a subsequent Q&A with Russian journalists, he broadened his attack on the West, blaming Western governments for everything from the war in Ukraine to Europe’s economic and political troubles.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Putin portrayed Western powers as declining “old leaders” trying to preserve their dominance as emerging economies gain influence. He claimed BRICS countries had generated more than 40% of global GDP over the past five years, compared with 29% for the Group of Seven. Putin also mocked the bloc of major industrial democracies, referring to the “so-called G7” and adding: “Why it is called ‘great,’ I don’t understand.” Russia joined what became the G8 in 1997 but was suspended in 2014 after its illegal annexation of Crimea, returning the group to the G7 format. ‘More than 30,000 sanctions’ Putin’s rhetoric became sharper when he turned to Western economic pressure. He accused Western governments of abandoning the free-market principles they once promoted and using sanctions, secondary sanctions, vessel seizures and other restrictions to regain what he described as their “former leadership.” “Your Western competitors today are trying by every possible means to restore their former leadership,” Putin said.