MOSCOW, December 4. /TASS/. The United States always influences Russia’s relations with neighbouring states directly or behind-the-scenes, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his state of the nation address on Thursday.

Getting back to the way Russia’s dialogue with Europe and the US on Ukraine was developing, the president said “It is not by chance that I have mentioned our American friends, as they have always been influencing our relations with neighbours directly or behind-the-scenes”.

“Sometimes I don’t even know who it is better to talk with — with the governments of certain states or directly with their American patrons and sponsors,” Putin said.