Putin calls to improve ties with the EU despite sanctions

President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he accepted the United States was probably still the world’s sole superpower and he was ready to work with whoever won the presidency, but didn’t want to be told how to live by Americans.

Putin’s remarks came just days after Russian government hackers were accused of penetrating a Democratic National Committee database and stealing opposition research on Trump – a report which Russia has denied, according to the Washington Post.

“There is no support for doping at the state level and there cannot be any”, Putin said at the annual St. Petersburg global economic forum held in Russia’s second largest city. “But it certainly can not be a one-way game”.

Despite lingering tensions over Ukraine, there are tentative signs of a thaw in relations, including European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s presence at the St Petersburg forum.

Putin said the most important thing for Syria was not for Assad to retake every inch of territory as he has pledged (though Putin said territorial gains were also important) but for overall faith in the authorities to be restored.

He blamed the United States for persuading European countries to continue sanctions against their own interests.

Putin’s initial praise of Trump sparked pushback from other Republican presidential hopefuls, including U.S. Sen.

“The U.S. proposal is absolutely acceptable. Well, if they want to, let them put up with it”.

Putin said he was grateful for the attention and respect Bill Clinton had shown to Russian Federation and Putin personally.