MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday spoke out against sanctions on North Korea and Iran, calling for more diplomatic efforts in the standoffs over their nuclear programs and sought to reassure European consumers that Russia was a reliable gas supplier.

Russian President Vladimir Putin responds to questions put forward by internet users during a broadcast in Moscow's Kremlin July 6, 2006. [Reuters]

In a live Internet conference aired on British Broadcasting Corp. Web sites - part of a charm offensive before the summit of the Group of Eight major industrialized nations that he is hosting in just over a week - Putin also described the United States as a key Russian partner and its president as a friend, but warned against U.S. world dominance.

Answering only a few of the thousands of questions that dealt with personal details or quirky issues such as whether Russia would deploy giant humanoid robots to protect its borders, Putin also defended devastating military campaign in Chechnya, saying Russia would do all it can to preserve its territorial integrity.

"Of course it was worth it," Putin said of the war that Moscow launched when he was prime minister in 1999, the second Moscow has waged against separatist militants in the mostly Muslim southern region since the Soviet breakup.

Speaking emotionally on the edgy subject, Putin said Britain has not considered breaking up the country by allowing one of its parts to secede. "And neither will we!" he said.

Putin said Russia was "disappointed" with the series of missile tests North Korea held this week, saying: "Tests of this kind cannot be considered normal because when all civilized countries conduct them ... they make known the place and time."

At the same time, Putin stressed the need for diplomacy to defuse tension over Pyongyang's nuclear program, calling for "an atmosphere that will lead to compromise."

Turning to Iran, Putin urged a swifter response to the package of incentives aimed at persuading it to halt uranium enrichment and enter talks on its nuclear program.

"We would like the response to be faster, we would like the dialogue ... to be constructive," Putin said. However, he added, "I would not rush forward and talk about sanctions," indicating that could increase tension.

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