Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Friday that the Soviet Union is "historical Russia."
Moscow has "always respected... sovereignization processes" that were carried out after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian leader said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). He went on to note that Russia has fraternal relations with Kazakhstan, but that it does not have "allied good relations" with Ukraine.
However, Putin later said that "sooner or later" the relations with Kiev will inevitably "normalize."
