Russia does not consider the United States of America to be its enemy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said ahead of a state visit to India.
“Russia today does not view the United States either as its enemy or even as its opponent. The U.S., one of the greatest countries in the world, is Russia’s partner today,” Putin said in an interview with Indian media and Russia’s RTR television channel in the run-up to his state visit to Delhi.
The president admitted that Moscow and Washington “have different approaches to certain issues and problems concerning the whole humankind, different approaches in the sphere of security” and in the sphere of the preservation of the Anti- Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty of 1972.
“We differently view the settlement of certain conflicts. We favor a multi-polar world and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Putin said.
“We are holding discussions with our American partners on a lot of problems I have just mentioned. But they are not of a hostile or aggressive nature,” the Russian head of state said.
“Therefore we can only welcome India’s developing relations with all countries in the world, including the United States,” he said.
