Bild: Putin Says He Wants Global Cooperation Against Terrorism

Mr Putin said Syria first needed political reform.

“We are faced with common threats, and we still want all countries, both in Europe and worldwide to join efforts to combat these threats”, Putin said.

“First, the Syrian population has to be able to vote, and then we will see if Assad would have to leave his country if he loses the election”, Putin said.

From there, Putin returned to a favorite theme: the idea that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation leaders reneged on a promise not to expand the alliance eastward toward the Russian border.

Putin also listed several recent measures taken by the U.S. such as the signing of anti-missile agreements with Turkey, Romania, Poland, and Spain and a radar being installed in Turkey.

His claim that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation promised not to expand drew a quick response Monday from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation leaders, including Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow, who tweeted that it was “simply untrue”.

“NATO and the US wanted a complete victory over the Soviet Union”.

“The mutual sympathy of our peoples is and remains the basis of our relationship”, he said.

Mr Putin also said his country would “resist” North Atlantic Treaty Organisation member Turkey if that country threatens Russia’s national security, referring to Turkey shooting down a Russian warplane in November on the accusation that the plane flew into Turkish territory. “I told her so later and apologised”. “When I found out that she doesn’t like dogs, of course I apologized”.

“Kosovo declared independence and the whole world accepted it, but what was the cause for that?”

President Vladimir today said sanctions by the West against Russian Federation over Crimeas reunification were a “silly and damaging decision”, stressing that sanctions instead of harming Russian Federation are having a positive effect on the countrys economy.

A PLUNGE in the oil price to 12-year lows during Russia’s New Year and Orthodox Christmas break means the country returns to work with its economic recovery and once-mighty savings war chest on the line. In the long run, he said, the current financial crisis will force Russian Federation to diversify from oil and gas.

Putin voiced his support for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying he trusted her.

“American pilots hit the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, by mistake, I am sure”, he said. But, he added, “she is also subject to certain constraints and limitations”.

He argues that “misguided” sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union after the annexation are not aimed at helping Ukraine, but at “repressing Russia”.

Putin continues to deny that the Kremlin ever sent ground troops to fight in Ukraine, stating recently that any Russian soldiers there are either volunteers or “advisers”.

That led the Bild reporters to bring up an incident that still rankles some Germans.

A year later, Putin allowed his sizable black Labrador, Connie, to attend a meeting with Merkel when she visited him in Sochi.

Many in the West believed that Putin was using the dog as a power play to intimidate Merkel, who at the time had been in office less than two years.