Politics
‘Post-Imperial’ Putin Glimpsed in Softer Foreign-Policy Tone
- Emollient Kremlin leader spares the West at annual conference
- Calmer style not seen as leading to compromise on conflicts
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Vladimir Putin may be testing out a new look for Russia’s foreign policy.
The Russian president delivered his least vituperative performance for a decade or more at the annual Valdai international affairs conference in Sochi this week, passing up numerous opportunities to attack the U.S. and Europe over disputes such as Ukraine.