Putin says Europe is erecting a new iron curtain against Russia to its own detriment

Europe is shutting off Russia with a new iron curtain, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, saying Western sanctions on Moscow over Ukraine had hurt the European economy while the U.S. and Asian economies had become more competitive.

Putin, who said Russia itself was not shutting itself from Europe, was speaking during a question-and-answer session at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi.