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Vladimir Putin Says Russian Athletes’ Ban From Olympics Is Politically Motivated Vladimir Putin Says Russian Athletes’ Ban From Olympics Is Politically Motivated
(about 1 hour later)
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Ahead of the announcement that Russia’s track and field team would be barred from competing this summer in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, President Vladimir V. Putin said the allegations of doping against his country’s athletes were part of a politically motivated “anti-Russia policy” by the West. ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Even before the announcement that Russia’s track and field team would be barred from the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, President Vladimir V. Putin was incensed.
There should be “no collective punishment” of athletes, Mr. Putin said of accusations that Russia’s athletes engaged in the extensive use of performance-enhancing drugs. Doping in sports is a global problem, he said, and Russia has been unfairly singled out. He said Friday that the allegations of doping against his country’s athletes were part of a politically motivated “anti-Russia policy” by the West.
“This cannot be a foundation for building anti-Russia policy,” Mr. Putin said on Friday. The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports is a global problem, he said at an economic forum in St. Petersburg, and Russia has been unfairly singled out.
“This cannot be a foundation for building anti-Russia policy,” Mr. Putin said.
The Olympics ban, announced after the Russian president’s speech at the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, is the latest setback to his efforts to shed Russia’s pariah status and win allies among European politicians.The Olympics ban, announced after the Russian president’s speech at the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, is the latest setback to his efforts to shed Russia’s pariah status and win allies among European politicians.
The Kremlin is seeking to re-engage Europe to bolster trade and revive Russia’s ailing economy, officials said at the St. Petersburg forum, the country’s marquee economic policy event.The Kremlin is seeking to re-engage Europe to bolster trade and revive Russia’s ailing economy, officials said at the St. Petersburg forum, the country’s marquee economic policy event.
The European Union and the United States had imposed sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea and intervened in a continuing war in the east of Ukraine, the bloodiest in Europe since the Baltic conflicts of the 1990s.The European Union and the United States had imposed sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea and intervened in a continuing war in the east of Ukraine, the bloodiest in Europe since the Baltic conflicts of the 1990s.
But the European mood on sanctions has been shifting, with growing support for loosening restrictions on banking and the oil industry. The European Union commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, broke ranks with their European colleagues by attending the business forum in St. Petersburg on Friday.But the European mood on sanctions has been shifting, with growing support for loosening restrictions on banking and the oil industry. The European Union commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, broke ranks with their European colleagues by attending the business forum in St. Petersburg on Friday.
Other participants included the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. And in another sign of France’s softening position on Russia, the French Parliament has passed a resolution to weaken sanctions.Other participants included the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. And in another sign of France’s softening position on Russia, the French Parliament has passed a resolution to weaken sanctions.
“European businesses want and must cooperate with our country,” Mr. Putin said in his speech, adding that it is now up to Western politicians to “show wisdom and foresight” and roll back sanctions.“European businesses want and must cooperate with our country,” Mr. Putin said in his speech, adding that it is now up to Western politicians to “show wisdom and foresight” and roll back sanctions.
Russia would then drop its bans on European cheese and other food. “We do not hold a grudge against anybody,” he said.Russia would then drop its bans on European cheese and other food. “We do not hold a grudge against anybody,” he said.
Asked by Fareed Zakaria, the moderator of the forum and a journalist at CNN, if a new Cold War is underway, Mr. Putin demurred. “I’m sure nobody is interested that,” he said, before enumerating Russia’s longstanding grievances with the United States, such as the expansion of NATO. Ukraine’s new prime minister, Volodymyr B. Groysman, was not so forgiving. He said Friday that those who would ease pressure on Russia would serve as the “aggressor’s accomplice.”
At the forum in St. Petersburg, Mr. Putin was asked by Fareed Zakaria, the moderator of the forum and a journalist at CNN, if a new Cold War was underway. “I’m sure nobody is interested in that,” he demurred, before enumerating Russia’s longstanding grievances with the United States, such as the expansion of NATO.
In the question-and-answer session, Mr. Putin, who had offered an early, glowing assessment of the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump, seemed to dial back his praise.In the question-and-answer session, Mr. Putin, who had offered an early, glowing assessment of the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump, seemed to dial back his praise.
“I only said that he is a bright person? Isn’t he bright? Yes, he is,” Mr. Putin said. “There’s one thing I paid attention to and that I definitely welcome. That he said he was ready to restore full-fledged Russian and American relations. What is bad about that?”“I only said that he is a bright person? Isn’t he bright? Yes, he is,” Mr. Putin said. “There’s one thing I paid attention to and that I definitely welcome. That he said he was ready to restore full-fledged Russian and American relations. What is bad about that?”
Mr. Putin, a politician with a sharp eye for detail, said that, in any case, the American presidential elections could hardly be called democratic, since the candidate who won the popular vote, on two occasions, did not win the Electoral College count. But, he said, it was not Russia’s position to criticize. “It’s not our business; as the Germans say, ‘it’s not our beer.’”Mr. Putin, a politician with a sharp eye for detail, said that, in any case, the American presidential elections could hardly be called democratic, since the candidate who won the popular vote, on two occasions, did not win the Electoral College count. But, he said, it was not Russia’s position to criticize. “It’s not our business; as the Germans say, ‘it’s not our beer.’”