MOSCOW, February 29. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed US officials’ purported interest in negotiations on strategic stability as disingenuous in his annual State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly, or Russian parliament, describing such statements by the US side as nothing more than cheap election campaign rhetoric.

"We have every reason to believe that the words of the current US authorities about their alleged interest in engaging with us in negotiations on strategic stability are merely cheap rhetoric ahead of the US presidential election," Putin said to the assembled lawmakers and other dignitaries. "They are simply seeking to show to their own citizens, and everyone else, that they still rule the world," he added.

The Russian leader also lambasted as hypocritical the US’ declared intention to discuss strategic stability with Russia while simultaneously striving to inflict a "strategic defeat" on Moscow. Putin emphasized that Russia "is dealing with a country whose ruling circles are taking overtly hostile actions against it."