Attempts to eradicate differences are undermining economic prosperity in the bloc, the Russian leader has stated.

People in the European Union are being negatively affected by the marginalization of their national identities, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, arguing that a lack of national sovereignty affects all aspects of life in a state.

Speaking during his year-end marathon Q&A session, Putin cited economic stagnation in Germany, claiming Russia's economy is stable in comparison. One of the event's co-hosts brought up a story that Putin told recently about a visit to Germany and how all songs performed at an event he was attending were in English.

Putin said it was not completely true, since he brought a Russian band with him to be part of the entertainment at the birthday of former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. The visiting singers learned a native song on their way to Hanover as a gesture of respect to the host, he said.

"Sovereignty is a very important thing. It has to be on the inside, in the heart. I believe that the German people had this feeling of belonging to a homeland and sovereignty eradicated in them during the post-war period.

"Who are the Europeans? They are all proud to be European. But they are first of all French, Germans, Italians, Spaniards, and Europeans secondly."

Attempts to tone down national differences in the bloc are affecting everything, including the economy, Putin argued. Russia puts a premium on its sovereignty and enjoys the benefit of deciding its own policies, he concluded.
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