Russian President Vladimir Putin answers questions during his annual press conference at Kremlin in Moscow. He accused the United States of trying to "isolate" Russia from its neighbours among the former Soviet republics. (Xinhua)

Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday accused the United States of trying to "isolate" Russia from its neighbours among the former Soviet republics.

Speaking at an annual press conference in Moscow, Putin said he has paid heed to Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski's reported comments that the United States preferred a "Russia without Ukraine."

Putin said he would ask US President George W. Bush at a meeting next year whether it is an established policy of the United States to limit the development of Russia's relations with its neighbors.

"I don't think it's the purport of the United States' policy," Putin said, "We'll have a meeting with Bush next year, and I will certainly ask him this question," Putin said.

Putin also criticized US-led plans to push ahead with an election next month in Iraq, saying: "We do not understand how there can be an election in a country under conditions of total occupation."

He said the United States are not only a partner for Russia, but also an ally in the fight against terrorism.

Russia and the United States, he said, "are definitely partnersin solving a number of acute problems of modern times. This concerns first of all the joint fight against terrorism. As regards this, I would without any exaggeration call our relations with the US not just (relations of) partnership but allies."

"Russia, along with the US, are major nuclear powers, and therefore we are bearing special responsibility in terms of weapon control and nonproliferation of means of mass destruction,"the Russian president said.

Putin also said that he personally has good relations with Bush,saying "Bush himself, in my view, is a very decent and consistent man. Our views don't always coincide, but I fully trust him as a partner and know that if he and I reach an agreement on something,then he will make efforts to implement these agreements. I act in the same manner."

Putin was obviously referring to the controversy between Russiaand Western countries, particularly the United States, over the political crisis in Russia's neighboring Ukraine, sparked a disputed presidential election last month.

Ukraine has been hit by divisions since the disputed presidential election on Nov. 21.

Pro-Moscow Ukrainian Primer Minister and presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych enjoys backing in eastern and southern Russian-speaking regions while his opponent in the upcoming re-run of the presidential election run-off, the pro-West Viktor Yushchenko, draws strong support in western Ukrainian-speaking regions, a traditional stronghold of nationalism.

Several regions in eastern and southern Ukraine called for autonomy after the Yushchenko-led opposition contested the results of the Nov. 21 presidential election run-off.

The Supreme Court later annulled the Nov. 21 poll results which proclaimed Yanukovych the winner, saying the vote was rigged in Yanukovych's favor. A re-run was scheduled for Dec. 26.

As the Dec. 26 re-run of the presidential runoff draws near, Yanukovych and his rival candidate, opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko have been engaged in intensive pre-election campaigning.

(Agencies)

purport : general meaning or tenor（主旨）