PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY. Dec 26 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed disagreement with the opinion that Russia has approached a dangerous line in relations with the West and reiterated Moscow's readiness for a dialogue.
"I don't believe that it [the line] is that dangerous, I believe that we are on the right track, we're defending our national interests and the interests of our citizens, our people. And we do not have other choice but protecting the interests of our citizens," Putin said in an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin for the Moscow Kremlin Putin program on the Rossiya 1 (VGTRK) television channel, answering a question whether Russia is approaching a critical line in its relations with the Western world and how one can step back from it.
"We are ready to negotiate with all participants of this process about some acceptable solutions, but it is up to them, we're not the one who refused to negotiate, it's them," he said.
He was also asked if Russia could behave "in the same ingenuous manner" as the West in its relations with Ukraine.
"No we could not! Our philosophy, attitude to life and people are different. When looking at people who became deeply immersed in moral values of the Eastern Christianity, the Western Christianity, and Islam, they have always said that we have different approaches, overall, they [in the West] rather show a material approach and determine success in life by the material aspect. And it's the spiritual one for us! So we could not!" Putin said.