Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday in Luxembourg that Western critics, who often have a hidden agenda against Russia, will not succeed by pressuring Russia on issues like human rights.

Speaking after talks with Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, Putin said Russia's increasing economic power means that "ways of influencing Russia these days are few," Belgian media reported.

Putin said there are two reasons why some outside forces are frequently attacking Russia on human rights issues, particularly at the pre-election period.

One reason is to support the pro-Western forces inside Russia, and the other is to pressure Russia into making concessions on issues like disarmament, anti-missile defense and Kosovo, he said.

The Russian leader urged these critics to change tactic. "The best method of talking to Russia is the same as that in relations with the other countries. Respect for each other's interests," he said.

Referring to the Iranian nuclear issue, Putin said Russia will "work together with all partners" to try to find a solution which takes into account the interests of all parties concerned.

The settlement should not deprive Iran of its right to possess advanced technologies, while at the same time eliminate concerns of the international community about Iran making nuclear weapons, he said.

Russia prefers "settling all matters, including regarding the Iranian nuclear dossier, by political-diplomatic methods," Putin said.

Putin, accompanied by a 250-strong delegation, arrived in Luxembourg Thursday after a visit to Austria. During his two-hour talks with Juncker, the two leaders discussed bilateral and European Union policy issues.

"There are problems (in the Russia-EU relations) but we will solve them together," he said after the talks.

Putin and Juncker signed energy, banking and steel agreements, including one allowing the Russian energy giant Gazprom to build thermal power plants.

Luxembourg officials said trade between Russia and the Grand Duchy has more than tripled over the past three years, reaching 241 million euros last year.

Source: Xinhua