President Obama on Wednesday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “scaring the heck out his neighbors” by taking a nationalist, outdated approach to international relations.
Obama, in extensive remarks to the Business Roundtable, conceded that he doesn’t expect Putin to change his governing style. However, the president insisted that Western sanctions against Russia in response to Putin’s actions in Ukraine had damaged the Russian economy.
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“I have a direct, businesslike and blunt relationship with Putin,” Obama said, describing his interactions with the Russian leader.
The president added that he had closer ties with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who was president of Russia during Obama’s first term. Behind the scenes, Putin maintained the most power in Moscow in those years.
Obama and Putin have always had a frosty relationship, and it grew even more contentious in the wake of the Kremlin annexing Crimea. Obama’s warnings to Putin have done little to deter his aggressions in Ukraine.
And Obama said that Putin wouldn’t change course until he felt more domestic political pressure. Putin’s approval ratings have remained high in Russia in the face of widespread international condemnation.
