Putin vows not to push Russia behind Soviet-style Iron Curtain

Reuters via Haazetz ^

[wetphoenix]

The Russian leader blames American hypocrisy for the deterioration between the two nations, which have reached they lowest point since the end of the Cold War.

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that trust between Russia and the United States had been damaged before the crisis in Ukraine, but added that he wanted to restore their cooperation and had no interest in pushing his country behind a Soviet-style Iron Curtain.

"To a certain extent trust has been lost, but we do not think we are to blame," Putin said in a televised phone-in with the nation.

He said it was U.S. hypocrisy that had brought relations to their worst level since the Cold War: "The United States can act in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya but Russia is not allowed to defend its interests."

The two countries have been at odds over a range of issues, from U.S. missile defense plans to NATO expansion and the civil war in Syria. To improve ties, Putin said, the United States should respect others' interests and international law.

"I want to emphasize once again, Russia is interested in growing relations with the United States and will do everything to ensure that this confidence is restored," he said.

The United States has imposed sanctions against some Russians to punish Moscow for the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, and says it is ready to adopt harsher measures if Russia intervenes further to destabilize Ukraine.

Putin also accused NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, in his previous role as Danish prime minister, of secretly taping and leaking a private conversation between them to the press.

"I could not believe my eyes and ears ... what kind of trust can there be after such incidents?" he said. But he added that Moscow was not interested in souring

[PittsburghAfterDark]

Did I think I would ever live long enough to see a Russian leader shame a United States pResident?

Nope.

Alas Bathhouse Barry makes history possible.

[exnavy]

Putin sure knows how to play the One.

[Jimmy Valentine]

So much for “smart power”

[The Great RJ]

I have more fear of an Obama curtain, where any dissent is banned from the airwaves and Internet by government “fairness” regulations, government monitors are in every newsroom, government bureaucrats control your healthcare treatments based on your political affiliation, the NSA monitors every phone call and e-mail, the IRS uses its power to suppress conservative groups and Obama ignores the Constitution and rules by decree.