MOSCOW (AFP) — Prime Minister Vladimir Putin vowed Thursday that Russia would weather the global economic storm, burnishing his image as the country's true leader in a marathon live television appearance.
In a striking change of tone, the influential ex-president also held out an olive branch to the incoming administration of US president-elect Barack Obama, saying he had seen "positive signals" that could produce improvement in Russia-US ties.
After polishing his credentials in a phone-in question-and-answer broadcast that lasted over three hours, he sought to dampen speculation about a quick return to the presidency, appearing to rule out early elections.
In a carefully crafted appearance in which one young caller addressed him as "uncle," Putin told Russians the country was in far better shape than during its last financial crisis in 1998.
Questioned by Russians facing galloping inflation and a shrinking credit market, he said: "What can you do in this situation? Can the state help? Yes, it can and it will."
"We will make sure that state money reaches those it is intended for," Putin said, singling out the agricultural, industrial and small business sectors.
"We have every chance of getting through this difficult period with minimal losses," he added.
Putin was also upbeat on the chances of a warming in the frosty relationship between Moscow and Washington that developed under outgoing US leader George W. Bush.
Obama aides had given encouraging signs on the hot-button issues of NATO enlargement and missile defence, he said.
"If these are not just words and translate into real actions, we will respond in kind and our American partners will immediately feel this," Putin said.
He noted that Obama has refused to commit to Bush's plan to place missile defence facilities in the Czech Republic and Poland, which Moscow opposes.
"We hope very much there will be positive changes. Right now we are seeing some positive signals," Putin said.
On NATO enlargement, fiercely opposed by Russia, he said: "Speaking to people who are very close to the newly elected president and his circle -- his assistants -- we are hearing that there is no reason to hurry.... There is no reason to damage relations with Russia."
Putin also dampened speculation that proposed constitutional changes, which would extend presidential terms from four years to six, were being rushed through parliament to enable his early return to the Kremlin.
"The next presidential election will take place in 2012 ... For now everyone must fulfill his duties in his place," Putin told reporters after the televised session.
However, Putin left open the possibility that he could run for the presidency again.
"Don't get all worked up asking what will happen in 2012. Let's live until then, and then we'll see," he said.
Despite his mostly upbeat mood on Thursday, Putin signalled continued toughness towards ex-Soviet neighbours.
He threatened Ukraine with new gas supply cuts if Kiev failed to pay its bills, while saying Moscow would inform European nations that receive gas via Ukraine of Russia's intentions.
Thursday's question-and-answer session built on the tradition of phone-ins that Putin began while he was president. It was staged in a slick, carefully lit studio with an audience that included army officers and activists from the ruling United Russia party.
At one point a child from the remote Siberian region of Yakutia asked "Uncle Volodya" -- the shortend form of Putin's first name -- if he could conjure her a new dress in which to celebrate New Year's. Putin responded by inviting her and her grandmother to celebrations in Moscow.
Putin stepped down as president in May after serving two consecutive terms, the maximum permitted under Russia's constitution, and was replaced by his hand-picked successor, Dmitry Medvedev.
But as prime minister Putin retains major -- some say decisive -- political influence and some analysts have noted a creeping personality cult around him.
Analyst Maria Lipman of the Carnegie Moscow Centre, a research institute, said Putin was being styled as tsar-like father of the nation even as Medvedev fulfilled his formal presidential duties on a visit to India.
Putin "projected the image of a commander-in-chief in whom everyone's hopes lie, who almost looks like an all-powerful monarch," Lipman told AFP.
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