Putin: Ukraine "brotherly," Snowden "interesting"

Ukraine is a brotherly country and Russia should support it in a difficult situation, President Vladimir Putin told his annual news conference on Thursday.

Izvor: Tanjug

Thursday, 19.12.2013.

15:13

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MOSCOW Ukraine is a brotherly country and Russia should support it in a difficult situation, President Vladimir Putin told his annual news conference on Thursday. “Our decision to reduce the gas price for Ukraine was to help the brotherly country and the brotherly people in the difficult situation,” Putin said, quoted by Itar-Tass. Putin: Ukraine "brotherly," Snowden "interesting" He also told more than a thousand gathered journalists in Moscow today that Russia was not opposed to Ukraine signing the SAA agreement with the EU, but stressed that Russia had to protect its own market. Putin said the ongoing protests in Ukraine had less to do with the country's EU integration, and more with the internal political struggle between those in power and the opposition. "If somebody is saying that we stole the European dream from Ukraine, I must say that has nothing to do with us, that is the choice of the people and legitimate authorities of Ukraine whether they'll sign something or not," the president said. Putin also spoke about former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who is currently in Russia where he has been granted temporary asylum. “I don’t know him personally and have never met him. I’ve got plenty of day-to-day affairs, and he has his own life concepts on what to do and how to live. He is rather interesting to me," he told the news conference, and added: “When I faced it, I was curious how he took it upon himself to do it. He is quite a young man. What does he possess? Literally nothing. Where is he going to live? He made this choice for himself. It is high-minded, but complicated." According to Putin, Russia "does not worry" the whistleblower with questions "on what was being done regarding Russia at his ex-service and how." At the same time, he noted that U.S. intelligence service’s global spying was done "to fight terrorism." "Espionage existed always, it is one of the oldest professions along with others - let’s skip naming those,” he was quoted as saying. At the same time, he warned that “there should be clear rules and some general agreements on the issue, first of all, of the moral aspect." When asked about his relations with U.S. counterpart Barack Obama after the spying revelations came to light, he said: “I envy him. He can spy on his allies without any consequences." (Beta/AP) Tanjug ITAR-TASS

Putin: Ukraine "brotherly," Snowden "interesting"

He also told more than a thousand gathered journalists in Moscow today that Russia was not opposed to Ukraine signing the SAA agreement with the EU, but stressed that Russia had to protect its own market.

Putin said the ongoing protests in Ukraine had less to do with the country's EU integration, and more with the internal political struggle between those in power and the opposition.

"If somebody is saying that we stole the European dream from Ukraine, I must say that has nothing to do with us, that is the choice of the people and legitimate authorities of Ukraine whether they'll sign something or not," the president said.

Putin also spoke about former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who is currently in Russia where he has been granted temporary asylum.

“I don’t know him personally and have never met him. I’ve got plenty of day-to-day affairs, and he has his own life concepts on what to do and how to live. He is rather interesting to me," he told the news conference, and added:

“When I faced it, I was curious how he took it upon himself to do it. He is quite a young man. What does he possess? Literally nothing. Where is he going to live? He made this choice for himself. It is high-minded, but complicated."

According to Putin, Russia "does not worry" the whistleblower with questions "on what was being done regarding Russia at his ex-service and how."

At the same time, he noted that U.S. intelligence service’s global spying was done "to fight terrorism."

"Espionage existed always, it is one of the oldest professions along with others - let’s skip naming those,” he was quoted as saying.

At the same time, he warned that “there should be clear rules and some general agreements on the issue, first of all, of the moral aspect."

When asked about his relations with U.S. counterpart Barack Obama after the spying revelations came to light, he said:

“I envy him. He can spy on his allies without any consequences."

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