THE TELEGRAPH: Russia's relations with Britain will remain in deep freeze for as long as the UK harbours Russians violently opposed to the regime, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
In his first meeting with foreign journalists since military conflict erupted in Georgia, Mr Putin portrayed his country as embattled and encircled by an aggressive west, particularly the US and UK.
Mr Putin issued a plea to the US not to build a missile defence shield in Europe. "Our targeting will begin as soon as the missiles are deployed in these countries. Please do not do so. Please do not instigate again an arms race in Europe."
Mr Putin said the newly-installed president, Dmitry Medvedev, had taken all the decisions about sending in Russian forces into Georgia last month and then recognising South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.
"What did you expect us to do? To defend ourselves with catapults? If an aggressor comes into your territory you would punch him in the face and be right to do so. Should we have wiped the bloody snot away and bowed our heads?"
Displaying in turns defiance and defensiveness, Mr Putin said that Russia had been four hours away from invading the Georgian capital Tblisi and deposing its pro-American leader, Mikheil Saakashvili. It refrained from doing so but now, Mr Putin said, it was up to the Georgian people.
The premier, until earlier this year the president and head of state, said his relations with George W. Bush had always been "really good" and "based on real respect". He regarded the American president as a man of "honour and integrity" and he treated him "better than some Americans do". Vladimir Putin Warns UK, US over Relations >>> By John Kampfner in Sochi, Russia | September 11, 2008
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