Obama 'pragmatic' with Putin

China Daily | Updated: 2014-02-08 07:23

Russian President Vladimir Putin may seek to look like the tough guy in joint appearances with President Barack Obama, but Obama said in an interview that he and Putin have a pragmatic and respectful relationship.

"I wouldn't call it icy," Obama said in an interview with NBC host Bob Costas taped on Thursday as part of coverage of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

"He does have a public style where he likes to sit back and look a little bored during the course of joint interviews. My sense is that's part of his shtick back home politically as wanting to look like the tough guy," Obama said in the interview, set to air on Friday evening.

"US politicians have a different style. We tend to smile once in a while," Obama said in excerpts of the interview released by NBC.

Reuters

(China Daily 02/08/2014 page8)