
At a time of icy relations with the U.S.A, the Russian President
Vladimir Putin gives a rare and surprising interview to CBS 60 Minutes.There aren't many world leaders who have generated as much interest as Russia's Vladimir Putin. All eyes will be on Putin when he speaks at the U.N. and meets with President Obama, at a time when he has placed himself and his country in the middle of the most pressing issues of our times. He helped the U.S. and its Western allies broker the nuclear deal with Iran, and now, with a Russian build-up of aircraft, military equipment and personnel in Syria, he has put himself and his country at the centre of that civil war and the fight against ISIS.
Now, when his relations with the United States seem to be at a post-Cold War low, suffering under Western economic sanctions imposed on Russia, Putin may be looking for a way to restore his international influence and gain the respect he seeks for his homeland.
Just before his trip to the U.S., Putin invited us to meet him at his state residence outside Moscow where we found him characteristically confident and combative as he made the case that the focus in Syria should be on fighting ISIS rather than removing Syrian President Assad.
Watch the full interview here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/vladimir-putin-russian-president-60-minutes-charlie-rose/