Putin: West's sanctions 'a blessing'

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday the worst is over for crisis-hit Russia, pointing to a recent rebound in the rouble despite Western sanctions over Ukraine.

Addressing Russians during his annual phone-in, he shrugged off his country's economic troubles and sought to portray Western punitive measures over the Ukraine crisis as a blessing in disguise.

"In fact, these sanctions only helped the government and the central bank," Putin said.