Let us not forget how the US reacted to Soviet Union's attempt to place missiles in Cuba in 1962.If that incident could be viewed in the West as not just a threat, but a major crisis, then why do we expect Russia's view of US attempt to build missile shields in Eastern Europe to be so different.

Chika Omeje, London, United Kingdom

The UK we can get rid of PM unlike Russia.If Russia is so great why does london have Russian billionaires.Putin realised markets rule enconomies not war heads.As for Americans the support shown to us in the Falklands war was overwhleming Reagan really supported like South Africa. Only New Zealand

Mike, London,

Putin is a smart man. He is right, western propaganda likes to portray Russia as agressors & US as saviours, when US foregn policy is the source to most probs. If western media r less selective & report on everything that happens in RU, like they do in US and EU, then everyone will be clearer.

Johnny, london, uk

Russian newspapers carry stories about how the Slavs are genetically superior to other races. The Russian Orthodox Church says the same things (especially Vselovod Chaplin, a fanatic if there ever was one; but for Russian power, not for Jesus Christ). There was a similar regime in the 1930's ...

Ben, Moscow, Russia

Putin is a bully, and every one should stand up to bullies

martin, Reading, Berkshire

If their was no oil in the region, would the USA be interested in Georgia etc?

Vishal Patel, London, UK

Putin frightens me.

Horace, Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Who does he think he's pointing his finger at?

leila, manchester, uk

Russia is a totalitarian and expansonist state, her population and leaders full of ultranationalistic bluster. Just check out Russian newspapers or TV, and you will be shocked. I'm happy civilized world is standing united against the tyranny. We cannot aford to repeat the mistakes of 1930's.

Thomas, Helsinki, Finland

Vladimir Minsk. Which history book you are reading? I think you will find Britain was fighting the Nazis in 1939. The Soviet Union stood on the side after signing a non aggression pact. Britain stood alone (no help from the USA) for almost 2 years. This exchange would be in German if she had fallen.

Alan, Salina, Malta

What is NATO{The United States] doing in Georgia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, the former Yugoslavia - to name but a few places suffering from American intervention.
Should Russia have a millitary presence in Britain, the USA, Western Europe?
Judged by US rules - to rule the World - it would be right.

roy ormond, leeds, uk

Mikhail , Moscow,

yes we heard all that before. Russia wants all the rights but none of the duties.

Anthony L, Chelmsford, UK

Barbarians are coming! It is not about Russia anymore. It is a new era of Asia, Latin America, so called 3rd world. You think democracy is the best, but you are a minority in this world. You will be minority at home soon. Barbarians are on your streets today. You can do nothing. Putin is very smart.

Vlad, Huntsville, USA

One momemt Putin threatens Poland and Czech Republic the next he says that Russia is no threat to the US and Europe. I fear that Putin speaks with forked tongue. Is it any wonder that President Yuschenko of Ukraine wants to join NATO, with friends like Putin/Russia who needs enemies.

Jim, Northridge, USA

Welcome to the 21st century Vlad, it is high time that you let your great people think freely and express themselves freely. The world is not all about "enemies", it is about being aware of and accepting differing views, inside and outside of your great nation. The world will embrace and support you

David, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand

Up to now, western leaders (some) hated him for his popularity and the sense of unity and consensus he created among his people. They can add to that his analytical thought, persistent search for the truth and the direct "look-me-in-the-eyes" attitude.

Excellent speech. Try and watch it all.

nkmile, athens, GR

One minute putin says he wants peace with the EU, the next he says he is going 2 nuke poland. how stupid does he think we are? and why do we wan their friendship anyway, they dont have 2 be our friends 2 sell us oil

Ben, UK,

“We should close this Pandora’s Box.”
In fact soon agreement between US and Russia not to use nuclear weapons is expired. I think normal people and Putin should be worried about that. At least Russia and USA have to sign new agreement.

Evgeniy Denisov, Samara, Russian Federation

I think he wanted to say that the relations with Britain will not be improved and 'the dissidents' it is just formal ground for it. I do not see any problems with that, both countries do not have vital interdependence.

Alex, Moscow, Russia

>>>The Russians have done nothing since World war 2 to earn anyone's respect.
>>>Graham, Fleet, UK
And you have done nothing even in the World war 2. Your troops begun fighting when the war had almost been won. After that all the time you have been paid by Americans. And you talk us about respect

Vladimir, Minsk,

It seems to me like most part of commentators don’t even understand or just don’t want to take into consideration a fact of Russia’s reluctance of war. Westerners, PLEASE, make love – not war.

Anna, Perm, Russia

It seems to me that there's a distinction to be drawn between what Putin says - a lot of it is true after all and we should stop trying to kid ourselves it's not; and the crude, bullying tactics Russia uses to enforce its own point of view. It has the "right" -sure. But it will never be respected

paul , london, uk

So... Putin warns U.S. and west from repeating errors made by Roman empire, while he wants to create new Roman empire himself... and become caesar himself...

Jani A, U.gi, Finland

First of all, Mr Putin likes his family & country. GB is not a girl to be liked or not.
Next time when somebody will explode a bomb or kill your troops, don’t blame somebody, just think about your behavior.
The only thing Russia wants is Respect & equal rights.

Mikhail , Moscow,

I heard that Putin is richer than Bill Gates.

Joe Steel, Baku,

Almost from guys here i hear the words like KGB, Stalin, Soviet Union etc...Guys, you just dont know nothing about Russia but this eternal fear that s inside your brains?

Relax, to built new relationships with Russia YOU must change your mind..but seems like you just dont want it...

Maria, St Petersburg,

Some of my Russian colleagues in Moscow are finding it more difficult to get Visa's from foreign embassies. No one is sure exactly how this has happened.

fereracarera, Inverurie, Scotland

Without its nuclear weapons Russia will be a second hand power,China will walk over Russia if Russia did not have atomic weapons to defend herself. As for Putin trying to do way with nuclear power that is a joke,he knows better.

Could Russia ever use them? That we should worry for the future.

vespasianus, Paramus n.j, United States

little zar should point finger towards himself and take a step down
nobody can forget and forgive him deaths of hundreds journalists and ex agents like Alexander Litvinenko.
European countries has made a huge mistake to permit their corrupted politicians to make agreements with russian gas companies

edoardo chioni, Rome , ITALY

So.... Putin doesn't like us much. We must be doing something right.

Ducan, London/Beijin,

The only thing Mr. Putin was tryin to bring into some cloudy minds that Russia is no threat to Europe, US or any else. There is no any " Soviet regime" in Russia. The things are changing. We do not want a war!

ILya, Stavropol, RF

Headline should be: Putin Protests Not Being Allowed to Continue Conducting Political Assasinations on British Soil.

Tom Penn, Knoxville, USA

Where has all this hot piffle from Putin led to?Just look at how far the Russian Market has fallen in a month? This just points to how really weak the the Russian economy is. It's dependence primarily on energy resources is Russia's great underbelly. I hope this megalomaniac has learnt his lesson.

Brian Musah, Hertford, UK

This paper is giving too much publicity to swindlers ,crooks and murderers ,ommitting the true facts discussed in Sochi.
According Paris Conference Agreement (1989-1991) Western leaders promised to Russia not to expand NATO beyond former East Germany. What we see in Europe under U.S.leadership now

J.Kolobko, Kiiv, Ukraine

As long as Russia perceives a threat around every corner, it will remain a third world country. Grow up Mr Putin; provide ALL of your people with a decent wage and stop looking for scapegoats.

CB, Caracas, Venezuela

To Julia. Living in Russia, we know our enemies and notice how media and politicians are trying to 'brainwash' us. Europeans and US ppl are usually manipulated. One politican says democracy was touched and you are ready to protest and do what they want you to. Your opinions are no longer yours. Sad.

Alex Meshkov, Novosibirsk-Beijing, Russia-China

"King Putin"'s only interest is his own self aggrandishment whilst his people are left to rot and he denies them the same rights to self determination he has given to sections of the population of Georgia. That is why the population of Russia is in terminal decline.

Simon Hicks, Burgess Hill, UK

Tim, Oxford. Russia might possess a newspaper that carries the banner 'Pravda', but truth never has been a feature of Russian culture. I doubt Putin would know what it was if he woke up in bed next to it.

Richard Crow , Warsaw, Poland

Britain is still a free, fair and open society. Sure we harbour dissidents and enemies of Russia, but we also harbour enemies of Britain thanks to our open door immigration policy (or is that lack of immigration policy?).

Brian, Yeovil, UK

diplomat who knew things very well. He said to me that it is better for Ukraine to stay a bridge between Russia and West rather than anything else. Like Finland in the Cold War. Smart. Now we have a stupid leader in Ukraine, beckoning from the West , angry Russia and split Ukraine?

sergei, limassol, cyprus

To Alexey

The right comparison of KGB is with Gestapo and not with CIA.
Imagine former Gestapo member being German president.

Mike, London,

Respect is not given - it is earned.

The Russians have done nothing since World war 2 to earn anyone's respect.

Like most bullies, they do not understand this.

Graham, Fleet, UK

Alex 'Where is my pride?' In living in a country where the law protects those who criticise those in power, where Government isnt run by the ex head of the secret police and the mafia, and which defeated the most bloody tyranny the world has ever known, soviet imperialism. Alex, where is yours?

julia, london,

Putin is right about the main reason that the the U.S. allowed Georgia to attack Ossetia (which is how it worked) - domestic U.S. politics. This is what is motivating most U.S. public diplomacy. The real U.S. goal is mostly focused about control of global oil supplies and transit routes.

Ike, San Francisco,

Why has Britain allowed its interests and relations with Russia to be damaged by habouring Russian oligarchs who are the political opponents of the Russian government.

It is not clear what British interest is served by this.
This policy has only served to create enemies.

John Collins, Bromley, Kent

Subho Basu, Syracuse , United States
Were talking about the Iraq war by any chance when you mentioned "mass murder"? Please clarify.

Oleg, Toronto, Canada

Putin is right about the main reason that the the U.S. allowed Georgia to attack Ossetia (which is how it worked) - domestic U.S. politics. This is what is motivating most U.S. public diplomacy. The real U.S. goal is mostly focused about control of global oil supplies and transit routes.

Ike, San Francisco,

>>>brian , rosyth,
"Once KGB always KGB."

What is wrong with KGB? USA has CIA why can't we have the same thing?

Alexey, Perm, Russian Federation

Putin is the only man who tells us the truth about global politics. The author of the article missed one important detail that Putin said: There is no such concept as European politics. European politics is made in Washington D.C. Hey, europeans, where is your pride!?

Alex, Moscow, Russia

UK is a democracy where rule of law is widely respected. Even those who allegedly conspire to commit mass murder got fair trial. This is what distinguishes UK. Mr. Putin would never understand democracy.

Subho Basu, Syracuse , United States

Putin got it right. He is THE barbarian to the US's Rome. With respect to respect, no pun intended, some would say respect is earned. Somehow threatening your neighboor is a strange way of going about it. But managing an economy still stuck in LendLease, he is forced to get respect any way he can.

Peter, Warsaw, Poland

I trust Putin alot more then I trust Bush, at least Putin speaks the truth and is straight to the point

Tim, oxford,

Russia won't have to resort to war, as the West will defeat itself, with it's liberal left policies.

Richard, Ivybridge, UK

Arrogant bushisms like that characterize you more than Putin.

Ilia G, Toronto, Canada

Quite a misleading title. Ahmed Zakayev is a "dissident" of sorts, so called "President of Ichkeria", deeply involved in the bloody islamic rule in Chechnya in the 90-ies, the "Kaukasus Khalifate" an so on. If he is a "dissident", why not Ossama? Give him political asylum too.

R. Theodore, Kuwait,

Yes Cat, that's why Putin is the Time 2007 Man of the Year and Time 2008 Most Influential Man in the World. Isn't it?

Topol, Hyderabad, India

At Long Last! Putin has spoken.
The Truth!

San Ying, Montreal, Canada

Quid pro quo Mr Putin - please refrain from transporting your nuclear materials (polonium) into my country to kill those who do not support your views.

Richard, Bucharest,

if ever there was a puppet it is Medvedev. Putin pulls the strings and it is all too apparent every time he makes a statement. Once KGB always KGB.

brian , rosyth,

Putin shoud have never been trusted. He is still a paranoid spy. Period

Cat, Utah, USA