Putin: Russia ready to work with new U.S. leadership

MOSCOW, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Russia is not seeking conflict and is prepared to work with the United States' new leadership, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

In his 72-minute speech, an annual state-of-the-nation address, Putin said: "We are prepared to cooperate with the new American administration. It's important to normalize and begin to develop bilateral relations on an equal and mutually beneficial basis. Mutual efforts by Russia and the United States in solving global and regional problems are in the interest of the entire world."

Putin added he hoped the United States and Russia will unite to fight global terrorism, noting Russian military action in Syria is supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against an assortment of militias, terrorists and other anti-government forces.

"Of course, I count on the alliance with the United States in the fight against the real, rather than fictional, threat -- international terrorism. This problem is solved in Syria [by] our servicemen. Terrorists suffered significant damage. The Russian army and navy have shown convincingly that they are able to work effectively away from the permanent deployment sites."

The United States and the European Union have been critical of Russia's defense of the Assad government in Syria, instead of directing its firepower at the Islamic State.

Putin's speech lacked threats or surprises, and also concentrated on internal Russian issues, including the economy, the fertility rate and the country's global image after sanctions were imposed because of a sports doping scandal.