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In his comments to the state-run Rossiya channel, Putin
appeared to soften his anti-American rhetoric after being highly
critical. Relations between Moscow and Washington and other
Western powers have soured over the conflict in Russia's
neighbor Ukraine, sinking to an all-time low.
"We have disagreements on several issues on the international
agenda. But at the same time there is something that unites us,
that forces us to work together," Putin said.
"I mean general efforts directed at making the world economy
more democratic, measured and balanced, so that the world order
is more democratic. We have a common agenda."
Putin has in the past fiercely attacked the United States and
the West in general, blaming them for the Ukraine crisis, which
Russia says was the result of a Western-backed "coup" against
Ukraine's former leader Viktor Yanukovich.
Russia has repeatedly denied accusations from Kiev and the West
that it is supporting pro-Russian rebels with troops and weapons
in eastern Ukraine, where more than 6,000 people have been
killed since last April.
His latest remark comes two days after an annual TV phone-in
show in which Putin accused the United States of trying to
dominate world affairs, saying it wanted "not allies, but
vassals". However, his criticisms of the West were more moderate
than in some previous appearances.
However, both Russia and the West say they back a peace deal
agreed in Minsk in February, as a result of which a ceasefire in
the Donbass region is largely holding.
(Reporting By Jason Bush; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
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