Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has once again accused the United States of seeking “vassals” rather than allies as his campaign for the March 4 presidential election intensifies.
“Sometimes I get the impression the US doesn't need allies, it needs vassals,” said Putin during a presidential campaign stop in Siberia on Wednesday.
The Russian premier noted that Washington “wants to control everything” and takes decisions unilaterally on key issues.
The Russian prime minister, who is bidding for a new six-year term in the Kremlin in the upcoming presidential election, has repeatedly criticized the US for meddling in internal affairs of other countries.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is reportedly due to become prime minister under a prospective Putin presidency in March 2012 -- a job swap bitterly criticized by the opposition.
Putin's presidency ended in 2008 after two consecutive terms because the Russian constitution prevented him from running a third term, however he will be free to run again on the March 4 presidential election.
The latest public opinion polls show 52 percent of Russians support Putin and he needs over 50 percent of registered voters to win the election in the first round, according to Russia Today news channel.
