Russia has withstood attempts to divide its society, according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

Russia has successfully resisted the ideological blitzkrieg by the West aimed at dividing the country's society and stirring unrest, according to the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Addressing students at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics on Monday, Zakharova accused Western countries of trying to isolate and destabilize the country following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.

The West was counting on "a split within Russian society" and intergenerational conflict, particularly as a result of its economic pressure, according to the official.

"The ideological blitzkrieg was one hundred percent planned. They placed a bet..." on Russia's defeat, but the country has withstood all the challenges, Zakharova said.

The US and EU have imposed numerous sanctions against Russia since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022 in an effort to isolate the country. Measures include a ban on Russia's seaborne oil shipments, cutting access to Western financial system, freezing foreign reserves, and many other restrictions.

Russia has repeatedly condemned the Western sanctions as illegal and ineffective, saying they have failed to destabilize its economy, and have instead backfired on the countries that imposed them.

Speaking at a meeting of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Moscow last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of using the Ukraine conflict as a pretext to eliminate Russia as a competitor. He pointed out that a total of 28,595 sanctions had been imposed against Russian companies and individuals in recent years, more than the total number of restrictions on all other countries combined. He added that the national economy has become more resilient and continues to grow despite the pressure.

Russia's rivals will always seek to weaken it, Putin told the audience, adding that even if sanctions are eased, the West would find new ways to "throw a wrench in the works."

US President Donald Trump, who launched talks with Moscow and Kiev last month in an effort to resolve the conflict, has signaled he may use economic sanctions as leverage, suggesting they could be eased if peace is reached or tightened if negotiations fail.

(RT.com)