Putin compares Soviet Union to US and EU on values

Russian President Vladimir Putin compared the Soviet Union to modern Western powers on Thursday at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi. He accused the United States and European Union of replicating Soviet mistakes by forcing their political ideologies onto other nations. Putin argued that governments attempting to impose their values on foreign societies ultimately fail to endure. He stated that countries honoring their traditions typically refrain from violating the customs of others.