Russian President Vladimir Putin today described as "decent man" to his US counterpart, Barack Obama, to recognize the errors committed during the military intervention in Libya.
"First, this shows once again that the current US president is a decent man," Putin said during his traditional "Hotline" in which he answered live questions from their fellow citizens.
Putin, who has always had a strained relationship with Obama, admitted that acknowledge mistakes "it is not easy".
"Barack, when he was a senator, criticized the actions of the then US administration in Iraq. Unfortunately, he was president he made the same mistakes in Libya, "he said.
Therefore, he added, "it is successful and is well aware that my colleague has the courage to make such a statement".
"Not everyone can do. This can only be done by someone who is strong, "he said.
A few days ago, Obama admitted he was wrong not to think carefully about the future of Libya after the intervention of 2011 that led to the overthrow of Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi.
Putin, who declined to comment whether he will run for reelection in 2018, was willing to keep in touch with Obama "to the end of its mandate."
"We all go sooner or later. It makes no sense to repent. You have to work. (Obama) is a responsible person. But it will come a new president and we will work with him, "he said.
As for their preferences on the future US president race that appear as favorites from Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Putin chose not to show preference for any candidate.
Although previously did not hesitate to praise Trump as a "brilliant man", on this occasion he said that the problem in Russian-US relations is not in the names but in the desire for "exclusivity" and "imperialist ambitions" of the US.
He noted that in recent times the two countries have come to cooperate "closely" and achieved "good results" in the fight against terrorism, the nuclear deal with Iran, the removal of chemical weapons from Syria or the fight against the proliferation of massive destruction weapons.