Putin denies Obama's 'one foot in past' jibe

July 04, 2009 08:52:23 AM

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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday hit back sharply at a claim by US President Barack Obama that he has one foot stuck in the past of the Cold War.

"We don't stand bow-legged," Putin said in televised remarks on a visit to the southern Krasnodar region.

"We are firmly standing on both our legs and always look to the future -- this is Russia's specialty and it is what has always allowed us to move forward and strengthen."

In an interview with The Associated Press ahead of his visit to Moscow next week, Obama had said he believed "Putin has one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new."

In contrast Obama said he had "a very good relationship" with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who succeeded Putin in the Kremlin last year but who is often seen as less influential than the strongman prime minister.

Medvedev is 43 years old while Putin, a former KGB agent, is 56.

The US president is due to visit Moscow on July 6-8 in a bid to "reset" relations with Russia that were badly strained under the administration of his predecessor, George W. Bush.

Obama is scheduled to have a breakfast meeting with Putin on Tuesday, but the bulk of his talks will be with Medvedev.

US-Russian relations could make a "great step forward" if Washington gave up its plans to build missile-defence facilities in eastern Europe or agreed to stop pursuing NATO expansion, Putin said Friday.

"If we see that our American partners stop the deployment of new military complexes, missile defence systems or, for example, reconsider their approach to expanding military-political blocs... this would be a great step forward."

Moscow has reacted angrily to US missile defence plans despite US assurances that they are not directed against Russia. The missile shield was strongly backed by Bush and is now under review by the Obama administration.

Russia has also been unhappy about US support for expanding the NATO military alliance to include ex-Soviet republics such as Ukraine.

Putin said that another "huge step" would be the repeal of the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a Cold War-era measure that imposes trade restrictions on Russia and that has long been a sticking point in US-Russian ties.

Despite the strong words, Putin also said that Moscow was awaiting Obama's visit "with very warm feelings."

"And we say to the president of the United States: Welcome," Putin said.