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Russian President Vladimir Putin answers questions during his
annual press conference at Kremlin in Moscow. He accused the United
States of trying to "isolate" Russia from its neighbours among the
former Soviet republics. (Xinhua) |
Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday accused the United States of
trying to "isolate" Russia from its neighbours among the former Soviet
republics.
Speaking at an annual press conference in Moscow, Putin said he has
paid heed to Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski's reported comments
that the United States preferred a "Russia without Ukraine."
Putin said he would ask US President George W. Bush at a meeting next
year whether it is an established policy of the United States to limit the
development of Russia's relations with its neighbors.
"I don't think it's the purport of the United States' policy," Putin
said, "We'll have a meeting with Bush next year, and I will certainly ask
him this question," Putin said.
Putin also criticized US-led plans to push ahead with an election next
month in Iraq, saying: "We do not understand how there can be an election
in a country under conditions of total occupation."
He said the United States are not only a partner for Russia, but also
an ally in the fight against terrorism.
Russia and the United States, he said, "are definitely partnersin
solving a number of acute problems of modern times. This concerns first of
all the joint fight against terrorism. As regards this, I would without
any exaggeration call our relations with the US not just (relations of)
partnership but allies."
"Russia, along with the US, are major nuclear powers, and therefore we
are bearing special responsibility in terms of weapon control and
nonproliferation of means of mass destruction,"the Russian president said.
Putin also said that he personally has good relations with Bush,saying
"Bush himself, in my view, is a very decent and consistent man. Our views
don't always coincide, but I fully trust him as a partner and know that if
he and I reach an agreement on something,then he will make efforts to
implement these agreements. I act in the same manner."
Putin was obviously referring to the controversy between Russiaand
Western countries, particularly the United States, over the political
crisis in Russia's neighboring Ukraine, sparked a disputed presidential
election last month.
Ukraine has been hit by divisions since the disputed presidential
election on Nov. 21.
Pro-Moscow Ukrainian Primer Minister and presidential candidate Viktor
Yanukovych enjoys backing in eastern and southern Russian-speaking regions
while his opponent in the upcoming re-run of the presidential election
run-off, the pro-West Viktor Yushchenko, draws strong support in western
Ukrainian-speaking regions, a traditional stronghold of nationalism.
Several regions in eastern and southern Ukraine called for autonomy
after the Yushchenko-led opposition contested the results of the Nov. 21
presidential election run-off.
The Supreme Court later annulled the Nov. 21 poll results which
proclaimed Yanukovych the winner, saying the vote was rigged in
Yanukovych's favor. A re-run was scheduled for Dec. 26.
As the Dec. 26 re-run of the presidential runoff draws near, Yanukovych
and his rival candidate, opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko have been
engaged in intensive pre-election campaigning.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-12-24 10:00