Putin: Obama Would Save Me If I Was Drowning

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he thinks President Barack Obama is a decent man and would save him if he were drowning.

The thoughts on the president's humanity came in response to a question asked during a live question-and-answer session with Putin on Russian television Thursday, NBC News  reported.

"Besides intergovernmental relationships, there are personal relationships," Putin said.

"I'm not saying we have some special relationships with the president of the U.S. but I think he is a decent and quite courageous person. I think he would do it," he added.

Before giving his answer, the Russian president, known for his tough-guy persona said, "I wouldn't want that to happen to me."

In the same interview, Putin also warned the United States of the consequences of treating other countries like "misbehaving children."

"Everything in the world is interconnected," he said. If the United States tries "to punish someone as if they are misbehaving children, they will eventually cut off the branch they are sitting on," the Russian president said.

"It is not a sports competition," he added. "We are partners and I hope we have a future for our relationships as we have common interests."

Related Stories:

• Cowed by Putin, Russian Media Promotes His Menacing Message
• Obama: Putin's 'Shtick' Is to Look Like Tough Guy