Putin: Charles' Comments 'Not Royal Behavior'

Vladimir Putin has heard Prince Charles' comparison of his actions in Ukraine to those of one Adolf Hitler, and he is unamused, reports the BBC. The Russian leader, speaking yesterday to major news agencies including the AP, labeled such comments variously "wrong," "unacceptable," and "not royal behavior." "I think he understands that himself," said Putin. Reps for Charles, perhaps wisely, had no comment.

Putin also hit upon the very situation Charles was critiquing, saying that "If the main bonus (of relations) Russia gets is to sit in the room and listen to what other people are saying, then that is not a role Russia can agree to. We always take into account the interests of our partners ... but there are some lines that cannot be crossed, and Ukraine and Crimea was that line." (More Prince Charles stories.)