Russian state television showed a clip on Sunday of Russian President Vladimir Putin mocking European politicians, whom he described as being totally dependent on the United States.

“If they are told tomorrow: ‘We have decided to hang you all!’ they will ask only one question, with their eyes down in surprise from their boldness: ‘Can we do this with the help of domestically made ropes?” Putin said, as cited by the state news agency TASS.

“And this will be another bust for them, sorry.

“I think it will be a fiasco for them because the Americans are highly unlikely to refuse … such a large contract for their textile industry,” Putin added. (dpa/NAN)