MOSCOW. Feb 22 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Western claims of Russia's imperial ambitions following the recognition of independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics.
"Russia decided yesterday to recognize the sovereignty of two Donbas people's republics. We were expecting speculations on the subject and claims that Russia sought to rebuild an empire within imperial borders," Putin said at a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
"This is absolutely wrong," he said.
Russia has recognized all the new geopolitical realities which emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and is actively strengthening relations with every post-Soviet state, Putin said.
"We have always been careful and have kept the interests of every party in mind even under the most pressing circumstances, such as the Karabakh settlement process. We have always tried to arrive at mutually acceptable solutions," he said.
Putin said that he had a phone call with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev before meeting with Aliyev. "This is a very good example because Russia supports the sovereignty of its neighbors and is doing everything it can to strengthen it. The Kazakh example is a proof of such policy," he said.
"At the request of the Kazakh leadership, we supported Kazakhstan in the CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization] amid the external aggression of international terrorism. As soon as the problem was solved, we met the request of the Kazakh administration and withdrew all our forces, which operated as part of the CSTO contingent. We are continuing to cooperate with Kazakhstan in every area, which is good for both Russia and Kazakhstan and strengthens Kazakh sovereignty. We intend to act likewise in relations with all our neighbors," Putin said.