West blasted for 'cynical' stance on Middle East

MOSCOW - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday hit out at the West's "cynical" stance on Syria and warned against strikes on Iran in an article published ahead of his likely return to the Kremlin in weekend polls.

The tone of Putin's messages echoed the diplomatic battles he waged as president from 2000 to 2008 and may only feed concerns about Russia's policies on his return for a six-year term in Sunday's election.

Russia's current prime minister strongly defended Moscow's decision to jointly with China veto two UN Security Council draft resolutions condemning the Syrian government for its crackdown on the opposition.