13 September 2016, 20:12 GMT
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, Obama compared Putin’s approval ratings to the poll numbers of late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. During a campaign speech for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, Obama also blasted her Republican opponent Donald Trump for praising Putin.
"I would not exaggerate, this unfortunate statement by President Obama, I am sure he is a person, who is educated enough to know that this kind of comparison is absolutely absurd. You know, sometimes politicians say things which they come to regret later," Churkin told RT broadcaster.
The UN envoy said that Russia should concentrate on the "problems at hand" despite such controversial statements being made by Western politicians from time to time.
Churkin said that the talks about Putin's ratings should not be a surprise as he is considered to be a popular world leader by US citizens.
