Vladimir Putin interview: Russian leader launches stinging rebuke of Western values claiming 'liberalism is obsolete'

Vladimir Putin has launched a stinging attack on the West, claiming "liberalism is obsolete" and criticising Britain's democratic process.

The Russian President also said claims that his agents had interfered in the US election were "mythical" while calling Donald Trump a "talented person."

In a wide-ranging interview with the Financial Times, Mr Putin said the liberal idea had "outlived its purpose," adding: "Liberals cannot simply dictate anything to anyone just like they have been attempting to do over the recent decades."

He continued: "The liberal idea has become obsolete. It has come into conflict with the interests of the overwhelming majority of the population."

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Osaka today
EPA

The Russian leader also branded Angela Merkel's decision to allow a million refugees into Germany a "cardinal mistake," claiming "this liberal idea presupposes that nothing needs to be done.

"That migrants can kill, plunder and rape with impunity because their rights as migrants have to be protected. Every crime must have its punishment."

In response, European Council President Donald Tusk said: "I strongly disagree with President Putin that liberalism is obsolete. What I find really obsolete are authoritarianism, personality cults, the rule of oligarchs."

Mr Putin called President Trump "Donald" several times during the interview, and said: "Mr Trump is not a career politician.

"I do not accept many of his methods when it comes to addressing problems. But do you know what I think? I think that he is a talented person. He knows very well what his voters expect from him.

“Russia has been accused, and, strange as it may seem, it is still being accused, of alleged interference in the US election.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens during an interview with the Financial Times newspaper in Moscow.
REUTERS

"What happened in reality? Mr Trump looked into his opponents’ attitude to him and saw changes in American society, and he took advantage of this."

President Putin also said Russia had "no problems with LGBT persons," despite his regime's anti-gay propaganda laws, which the UN ruled was in violation of human rights.

The leader, who will have to step down in 2024, made a jibe about the Tory leadership race, claiming "[Russia] is different from what you have in Great Britain. We are a democratic country.

"The choice is always made by the Russian people."

Mr Putin said the attempted assassination of former double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury last year was an issue between intelligence agencies and should not be allowed to damage relations and economic interests shared by Britain and Russia.

Mr Putin said he hopes the meeting will help repair relations between the UK and Russia.
REUTERS

Bilateral relations plunged to post-Cold War lows last year when London blamed Moscow for the poisoning.

Moscow denies involvement in the attack, which prompted the biggest wave of diplomatic expulsions between Moscow and the West since the Cold War.

Putin said the prime minister may have more scope to take long-sighted decisions about rehabilitating ties with Moscow, given that she is soon stepping down as leader.

He added: "All this fuss about spies and counterspies, it is not worth serious interstate relations.

"This spy story, as we say, it is not worth five kopecks. Or even five pounds, for that matter."

Outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May will hold talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin at this year's G20 summit 
Getty

"I think that both Russia and the UK are interested in fully restoring our relations. At least I hope that a few preliminary steps will be made," he added.

"I think it would be easier for Mrs May, maybe, because she is leaving and is free to do what she thinks is right, important and necessary and not to bother about some domestic political consequences."

British prosecutors have charged two Russian military intelligence officers, known by the aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, in absentia with attempted murder.

Mrs May last met Mr Putin at a G20 summit in Argentina in November, when the Russian leader approached her informally.

G20 Summit 2019 - In pictures

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