Obama: Russia Adopted an ‘Adversarial Spirit’ After Putin Won Re-Election

EXCERPT:

OBAMA: "At the beginning of my term I did what I could to encourage Russia to be a constructive member of the international community, and try to work with the president and the government of Russia in helping them diversify their economy, improve their economy, use the incredible talents of the Russian people in more constructive ways. I think it is fair to say that after president Putin came back into the presidency, that an escalating anti-American rhetoric and an approach to global affairs that seemed to be premised on the idea that whatever America is trying to do must be bad for Russia, so we want to try to counteract whatever they do, that returned to an adversarial spirit that I think existed during the Cold War and it has made the relationship more difficult. And it was hammered home when Russia went into Crimea and portions of Ukraine."