Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that despite differences between Moscow and the U.S., the two countries share common interests and need to work together on a common agenda.
"We have disagreements on several issues on the international agenda. But at the same time there is something that unites us, that forces us to work together," Putin said in a television interview with the state-run Rossiya channel, Reuters reported. "I mean general efforts directed at making the world economy more democratic, measured and balanced, so that the world order is more democratic. We have a common agenda."
Two two countries have been at odds over the Ukraine crisis. Putin alleges that the U.S. and others backed the coup against Ukraine's former leader Viktor Yanukovich, while the U.S. claims Russia has been supplying weapons and fighters to the pro-Russian resistance fighting against Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine.
Hundreds of U.S. paratroopers arrived in Ukraine over the past week to train its forces fighting the pro-Russian rebels, a move that Russia said could further destabilize the region, according to AFP.
Many U.S. lawmakers, including some influential Democrats, have urged President Barack Obama to also arm Ukraine with deadly weaponry, and while Obama hasn't ruled out such a move, he said that he would like to first see what effect the peace agreement has. So far, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with $75 million in non-lethal aid, including surveillance drones and armored Humvees, according to Politico.
Nonetheless, Putin said Saturday that Russia will work "with any American head of state the American people elect" to achieve mutual goals. "Our cooperation is not with a particular person but with a nation, a big and powerful international player," he said, reported RT.
