Vladimir Putin told Charlie Rose in an interview airing Sunday on “60 Minutes” that he doesn’t think President Obama is weak and that in America, “foreign political factors are used for domestic political battles.” (RELATED: Trump Says He Would ‘Enjoy’ Meeting With Putin)
Putin, a former KGB agent, dodged Rose’s question about his own opinion of Obama, suggesting, “I don’t think I’m entitled to give any views regarding the president. That’s up to the American people.”
Charlie Rose: Let me ask you this, what do you think of President Obama? What’s your evaluation of him?
Vladimir Putin: I don’t think I’m entitled to give any views regarding the president. That’s up to the American people.
Rose: Do you think his activities in foreign affairs reflect a weakness?
Putin: I don’t think so at all. You see, here’s the thing, in any country– and in the United States, I believe this happens even more often than in any other country– foreign political factors are used for domestic political battles. There is a presidential campaign coming up, so they’re playing either the Russian card or some other.
Rose: Okay, but let me ask you this, do you think he listens to you?
Putin: Well, I think we listen to each other in a way, especially when it comes to something that doesn’t go counter to our own ideas about what we should and should not do.
Rose: Do you think he considers Russia, you said you’re not a superpower, he considers Russia an equal and considers you an equal, which is the way you want to be treated?
Putin: (laughs) Well, you ask him. He’s your president. How could I know what he thinks?