Putin: US plans reminiscent of Cuban missile crisis
Russian president draws parallel between US plans for missile shield in Europe, 1962 missile crisis; however, Putin says tensions much lower this time because US-Russia relations better today
"I would remind you how relations were developing in an analogous situation in the middle of the 1960s," he said when asked at a news conference about Washington's plans to station elements of a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe.
"Analogous actions by the Soviet Union when it deployed rockets on Cuba provoked the Cuban missile crisis," Putin said after an EU-Russia summit in Portugal.
"For us, technologically, the situation is very similar. On our borders such threats to our country are being created," the Russian leader said.
'Relations between Russia and the US have changed'
However, Putin suggested the tension was much lower than during the Cuban missile crisis because Russian-US relations have moved on since the Cold War. He said he feels the United States is listening to Moscow's concerns about its missile plans and called US President George W. Bush a friend.
"Thank God, we do not have any Cuban missile crisis now and this is above all because of the fundamental way relations between Russia and the United States and Europe have changed," Putin said.
Speaking on another topic, the Russian leader said he would not assume presidential powers if he became prime minister after stepping down as Russian president in the spring.
"If someone thinks that I intend to move, let's say, into the government of the Russian Federation and transfer the fundamental powers there, that's not the case," he said at a news conference at the conclusion of an EU-Russian summit in Portugal.
"There will be no infringement on the powers of the president of the Russian Federation, at least while it depends on me."
