Putin says Russia trawling for friends, not enemies

1 December 2016, 3:59 pm

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President Vladimir Putin has adopted a conciliatory tone to international rivals in a key speech, saying Russia has “never looked for enemies” in the international community.

“We do not want confrontation with anyone. It is not needed — not by us, our partners, the international community,” Putin said during an address on the state of the nation.

Journalists watch a live broadcast of Russian President Vladimir Putin's Federal Assembly address at a press room at the Kremlin in Moscow on December 1, 2016. (AFP /Natalia KOLESNIKOVA) — Journalists watch a live broadcast of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Federal Assembly address at a press room at the Kremlin in Moscow on December 1, 2016. (AFP /Natalia KOLESNIKOVA)

“As opposed to some of our foreign colleagues who view Russia as an adversary, we are not looking, and have never looked, for enemies. We need friends.”

In a pointed aside, Kremlin strongman added that Russia would nevertheless “not allow its interests to be infringed upon.”

— AFP