Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin On Wednesday, the Kremlin said that the Kremlin has “constructive” relations with Washington and expressed hope that mutual interests will eventually help normalize US-Russia relations.
Putin also said during a panel discussion at an international energy conference in Moscow that Russia Nervous Energy in Europe is set to boost natural gas supplies to help calm the market, saying his country wants prices to remain stable.
He dismissed accusations from some European experts and politicians that Russia was halting gas distribution and raising energy prices. The Russian leader also rejected criticism of the ongoing domestic crackdown on dissent and independent media.
Putin strongly defended a Russian law that requires recipients of foreign funds and those engaging in unspecified political activities to be registered as “foreign agents”, a similar pro-reaction to a US law. which has been used to target Russian media organizations in the United States. State.
Critics say the Russian law has been used to muzzle critical media outlets because the “foreign agent” stigma has strong derogatory connotations and means a closer scrutiny of the government.
Dmitry Muratov, who won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for his work as editor of the independent Russian newspaper nova gazzetta, wondered whether the authorities would designate his paper as a “foreign agent”.
Asked on Wednesday whether it is a possibility, putin replied that Muratov should not worry “if he does not violate Russian law and does not give an excuse to be designated as a foreign agent.”
“But if he tries to protect himself from the Nobel Peace Prize for doing something that violates Russian law, it will mean that he will do so intentionally or for some other reason,” the president said.
Putin also said about the imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, alleging that he was “trying to obtain commercial gains by shielding himself from political activities.”
According to his custom, Putin did not mention Navalny by name.
Navalny, Putin’s most staunch political foe, was jailed this year after returning to Russia from Germany, where he was recovering from nerve-agent poisoning, for which he blamed the Kremlin.
NS crenlin Denies the allegation. He received a 2½-year prison sentence for violating the terms of a suspended sentence from a 2014 embezzlement conviction, which he dismissed as politically motivated.
Commenting on Russia-US relations, Putin said that relations with Russia Biden The administration has been “quite constructive” and has developed a “working, stable relationship” with the president personally. Joe Biden.
“Mutual interests will undoubtedly lead to the normalization of our relations, and the American political establishment will stop speculating on Russian-American relations to the detriment of their own interests,” he said.
Putin said possible contacts between the two presidents were discussed after the summit in Geneva in June during the visit of Russian diplomats and US Secretary of State Victoria Nuland.
In comments tweeted by the US embassy in Moscow, Nuland said he “greatly appreciates the clear, productive review of US-Russia relations” with Putin’s foreign affairs adviser. Yuri Ushakov, on Wednesday, adding that “we are committed to a stable, predictable relationship.”
The Kremlin has yet to say whether Putin will travel to Rome later this month to attend the Group of 20 summit, which Biden is scheduled to attend.
Asked about Russia’s efforts to develop new weapons, Putin said they came as a response to Washington’s decision to withdraw from a 2002 Cold War-era treaty that banned defense against ballistic missiles. Gave.
He said the move threatens to weaken Russia’s nuclear deterrence.
He said “the arms race is on,” but added that Russia was ready to discuss its new weapons in arms control talks with the US.
Putin also said during a panel discussion at an international energy conference in Moscow that Russia Nervous Energy in Europe is set to boost natural gas supplies to help calm the market, saying his country wants prices to remain stable.
He dismissed accusations from some European experts and politicians that Russia was halting gas distribution and raising energy prices. The Russian leader also rejected criticism of the ongoing domestic crackdown on dissent and independent media.
Putin strongly defended a Russian law that requires recipients of foreign funds and those engaging in unspecified political activities to be registered as “foreign agents”, a similar pro-reaction to a US law. which has been used to target Russian media organizations in the United States. State.
Critics say the Russian law has been used to muzzle critical media outlets because the “foreign agent” stigma has strong derogatory connotations and means a closer scrutiny of the government.
Dmitry Muratov, who won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for his work as editor of the independent Russian newspaper nova gazzetta, wondered whether the authorities would designate his paper as a “foreign agent”.
Asked on Wednesday whether it is a possibility, putin replied that Muratov should not worry “if he does not violate Russian law and does not give an excuse to be designated as a foreign agent.”
“But if he tries to protect himself from the Nobel Peace Prize for doing something that violates Russian law, it will mean that he will do so intentionally or for some other reason,” the president said.
Putin also said about the imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, alleging that he was “trying to obtain commercial gains by shielding himself from political activities.”
According to his custom, Putin did not mention Navalny by name.
Navalny, Putin’s most staunch political foe, was jailed this year after returning to Russia from Germany, where he was recovering from nerve-agent poisoning, for which he blamed the Kremlin.
NS crenlin Denies the allegation. He received a 2½-year prison sentence for violating the terms of a suspended sentence from a 2014 embezzlement conviction, which he dismissed as politically motivated.
Commenting on Russia-US relations, Putin said that relations with Russia Biden The administration has been “quite constructive” and has developed a “working, stable relationship” with the president personally. Joe Biden.
“Mutual interests will undoubtedly lead to the normalization of our relations, and the American political establishment will stop speculating on Russian-American relations to the detriment of their own interests,” he said.
Putin said possible contacts between the two presidents were discussed after the summit in Geneva in June during the visit of Russian diplomats and US Secretary of State Victoria Nuland.
In comments tweeted by the US embassy in Moscow, Nuland said he “greatly appreciates the clear, productive review of US-Russia relations” with Putin’s foreign affairs adviser. Yuri Ushakov, on Wednesday, adding that “we are committed to a stable, predictable relationship.”
The Kremlin has yet to say whether Putin will travel to Rome later this month to attend the Group of 20 summit, which Biden is scheduled to attend.
Asked about Russia’s efforts to develop new weapons, Putin said they came as a response to Washington’s decision to withdraw from a 2002 Cold War-era treaty that banned defense against ballistic missiles. Gave.
He said the move threatens to weaken Russia’s nuclear deterrence.
He said “the arms race is on,” but added that Russia was ready to discuss its new weapons in arms control talks with the US.
.