Report: Putin Says Russia Doesn't Want a Return to Cold War
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Russia wants to maintain normal relations with the West and doesn't need a replay of the Cold War, news reports said.
"We will be building our relations with our Western partners in a patient and calm manner," Putin said during a meeting with state television executives and journalists, according to the ITAR-Tass, Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies.
"I have already said that we will not return to the Cold War period ... in our policy or defense strategy," Putin said, adding that he underlined that message in his state of the nation address.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In Wednesday's speech, Putin responded sarcastically to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's criticism of Russia's democratic record and said that the nation needs a strong military to resist foreign pressure.