Putin Says There Is No Basis For A Cold War

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks during an interview with CNN in the
Black Sea resort Sochi, August 28, 2008.

Putin Warns West Against Starting Arms Race -- Reuters

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned the West on Thursday against starting an arms race in Europe by stationing a U.S. missile defense shield near Russia's borders and said there was no basis for a new Cold War.

Putin, who has taken a robust stance on Russia's conflict with Georgia over the region of South Ossetia, blamed Washington rather than Moscow for resurrecting Soviet-style rhetoric.

"Today there are no ideological contradictions, there is no basis for a Cold War," Putin told a group of reporters.

"There is no basis for mutual animosity ... Russia has no imperialist ambitions," Putin said at a three-hour lunch briefing at his retreat in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Russia was criticized by the United States and European governments for sending troops into Georgia last month and then recognizing the two breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

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My Comment: Putin is calculating the costs of Russia's small war with Georgia .... and he is realizing that the costs may be higher than what he had expected.