Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Nothing should impede normalisation of Russia-West relations: Putin

-

President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said nothing should impede the normalisation of relations between Russia and the West, after ties hit a post-Cold War low due to the standoff over Ukraine.

His remark, which contrasted with weeks of hostile rhetoric on both sides, came after talks between Russia, Ukraine and the West on Thursday in which an agreement was forged on initial steps to ease the crisis.

"It (normalising relations) does not depend on us. Or does not only depend on us. It depends on our partners," Putin said in comments released by Russian news agencies from a state television interview to be broadcast later on Saturday.

"I think that there is nothing that should stand in the way of a normalisation and normal cooperation," he added.

Putin expressed hope that Russia would be able to establish good relations with the incoming NATO secretary general, former Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, after testy exchanges with the outgoing chief of the alliance, ex-Danish premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

"We have very good relations. And this includes personal relations. He (Stoltenberg) is a very serious, responsible person and let's see how the relations work in his new function," said Putin.

The problems in Putin's relations with Rasmussen were underlined on Thursday when the Russian president in a phone-in with the nation accused Rasmussen of secretly recording and leaking a private conversation they held while he was Danish prime minister.

Putin also reaffirmed that Moscow was giving Kiev another month to clear its gas debts but insisted Russia was not intent on bringing down the Ukrainian economy.

"We cannot wait forever. We cannot transfer onto the Russian budget and the Russian taxpayer the burden for a country of 45 million people," he said.

"We are not trying to undermine the Ukrainian economy, which would put the reliability of the transit (of Russian gas) to Europe in doubt."

He called on all European states to work out measures on how to finance the Ukrainian budget.

So far it remains unclear how the Geneva agreement between Russia, the United States, the EU and Ukraine will be implemented, with pro-Russia separatists refusing to leave buildings in the east of Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said nothing should impede the normalisation of relations between Russia and the West, after ties hit a post-Cold War low due to the standoff over Ukraine.

His remark, which contrasted with weeks of hostile rhetoric on both sides, came after talks between Russia, Ukraine and the West on Thursday in which an agreement was forged on initial steps to ease the crisis.

“It (normalising relations) does not depend on us. Or does not only depend on us. It depends on our partners,” Putin said in comments released by Russian news agencies from a state television interview to be broadcast later on Saturday.

“I think that there is nothing that should stand in the way of a normalisation and normal cooperation,” he added.

Putin expressed hope that Russia would be able to establish good relations with the incoming NATO secretary general, former Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, after testy exchanges with the outgoing chief of the alliance, ex-Danish premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

“We have very good relations. And this includes personal relations. He (Stoltenberg) is a very serious, responsible person and let’s see how the relations work in his new function,” said Putin.

The problems in Putin’s relations with Rasmussen were underlined on Thursday when the Russian president in a phone-in with the nation accused Rasmussen of secretly recording and leaking a private conversation they held while he was Danish prime minister.

Putin also reaffirmed that Moscow was giving Kiev another month to clear its gas debts but insisted Russia was not intent on bringing down the Ukrainian economy.

“We cannot wait forever. We cannot transfer onto the Russian budget and the Russian taxpayer the burden for a country of 45 million people,” he said.

“We are not trying to undermine the Ukrainian economy, which would put the reliability of the transit (of Russian gas) to Europe in doubt.”

He called on all European states to work out measures on how to finance the Ukrainian budget.

So far it remains unclear how the Geneva agreement between Russia, the United States, the EU and Ukraine will be implemented, with pro-Russia separatists refusing to leave buildings in the east of Ukraine.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

Life

Their stories are divided into before and after.

World

Child of the caliphate: A girl in the vast al-Hol Islamic State camp in northeastern Syria - Copyright AFP Delil SOULEIMANRouba EL HUSSEINIAli is...

Social Media

Wanna buy some ignorance? You’re in luck.

Tech & Science

Under new legislation that passed the House of Representatives last week, TikTok could be banned in the United States.