Putin declines to rule out return to presidency

RUSSIAN PRIME minister Vladimir Putin has refused to quash speculation that he could return to the Russian presidency, in his first live question-and-answer session with the public since leaving the Kremlin.

Mr Putin used his now traditional “conversation” with the nation to express hopes for good relations with US president-elect Barack Obama, lay out his response to the world economic slowdown, warn of potential winter gas reductions to Ukraine and issue a painful warning to Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili.

Amid speculation that a Kremlin-backed proposal to lengthen the presidential term to six years from four was part of preparations for his return to the role, Mr Putin said yesterday: “The next elections in the Russian Federation are in 2012 . . . we will have to get through to that time, then we will see.”

Asked about prospects for relations with Mr Obama, Mr Putin said he was “seeing positive signals” from the incoming administration.

“Already at the level of experts, we hear from people close to the president-elect . . . that one should not spoil relations with Russia,” the prime minister continued.

“We already hear that one should yet again rethink the expediency of deploying . . . the missile defence system in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic . . . We hear that one should build relations with Russia, taking into account its interests.

“If these are not just words, if they get transformed into a practical policy, then of course our reaction will be appropriate and our American partners will feel this at once.”

Mr Putin again blamed the US for triggering the global economic crisis, but insisted that Russia’s huge gold and foreign exchange reserves would allow Moscow to spend its way out of difficulties.

Promising state funds to increase unemployment benefits and pensions, prop up major enterprises and stabilise the rouble currency, Mr Putin said Russia had “a good chance of getting through this tough period with minimal losses both for the economy and ordinary people”.

He warned neighbouring Ukraine, however, that it would have to pay more for Russian gas once it had resolved a current dispute over unpaid bills – a spat that has rekindled memories in western Europe of how Moscow cut fuel supplies to Ukraine during a similar row in 2006, causing shortages in the European Union.

“If our partners do not follow agreements or [if they] illegally siphon off our gas from transit pipelines as they did in previous years, then we will be forced to cut deliveries,” Mr Putin said.

As in previous years, the broadcast burnished Mr Putin’s reputation as a tough but caring patriot.

While one young caller addressed him as “uncle”, the prime minister was also queried over reports that he had called for Mr Saakashvili to be “hung by his balls” during Russia’s war with Georgia in August.

Asked if he had really wanted the Georgian leader to be “hung by one of his body parts”, Mr Putin waited for laughter in the studio to subside before replying: “Why only one?”