Feud

Putin Calls U.S. a ‘Parasite’

But relieved over last-minute debt deal.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin criticized the U.S. Monday of living beyond its means. “They are living like parasites off the global economy and their monopoly of the dollar.” Putin said while visiting a pro-Kremlin youth camp. “If over there (in America) there is a systemic malfunction, this will affect everyone.” Putin noted that Russia holds a large number of U.S. bonds and treasuries, and was relieved that Congress seemed likely to pass a last-ditch debt compromise to avoid default. “Countries like Russia and China hold a significant part of their reserves in American securities,” he said. “There should be other reserve currencies.”