The refusal of several Western countries to cooperate with Russia normally, including with regards to Russian energy resources had already hit millions of Europeans and affected the United States, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

Russia could send its energy resources to countries where they were really needed, Putin remarked when chairing a meeting of the country's Arctic Council to discuss the development of the area.

Putin also said that "unfriendly countries" had destroyed supply chains in Russia's Arctic region and some nations were not fulfilling their contractual obligations, creating issues for Moscow.

The implementation of projects in Russia's Arctic region must not be postponed because of sanctions, said Putin.