Vladimir Putin rails against US over missile defence By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Published on Saturday 3 March 2012 00:00 IT MAY come as little surprise that Vladimir Putin is confident he will win Russia's presidential election, nor that he was in fighting form on the penultimate day of campaigning yesterday. There may be five candidates, but Mr Putin is all but certain to regain the presidency in Sunday's vote. Recent polls show he has the backing of 60 per cent of Russians, paving the way for an easy victory against four-Kremlin approved contenders. Yesterday Mr Putin declared he had the support of most Russians, but admitted he was less popular in Moscow and other big cities. He even claimed massive protests in recent weeks against his 12-year rule were "good for Russia." "That situation has helped make government structures more capable, has raised the need for them to think, search for solutions and communicate with society," he said, leading to claims he was trying to put a positive spin on unresolved tensions. Prime minister Putin promised to speak to protesters, but rejected the opposition's main demand of re-running the December parliamentary election during which his United Russia Party held its majority through suspected widespread fraud. The evidence of vote-rigging fuelled protests in Moscow that drew tens of thousands of people in the largest show of discontent since the Soviet collapse two decades ago. The opposition is gearing up for another massive protest against what it fears will be a rigged vote tomorrow. September's announcement that Mr Putin and his protégé, president Dmitry Medvedev, would swap jobs angered many Russians, who saw it as showing contempt for democracy. Mr Putin said yesterday the decision merely reflected the fact he is the more popular of the two men. He served as president from 2000-2008 before shifting to prime minister when barred from a third successive term by the constitution. With Russia's presidential term now increased from four to six years, he is eligible to serve another 12 years as president, which would make him Russian leader for nearly a quarter century, longer than anyone else since dictator Josef Stalin. I don't know whether I want to stay in the seat for more than 20 years. I haven't yet made this decision," Mr Putin said. He reaffirmed his promise to make Mr Medvedev prime minister, if he wins tomorrow, saying that post would allow Mr Medvedev to implement sweeping reforms. Some observers said that appointing Mr Medvedev could help Mr Putin sidestep a wave of discontent. Mr Putin's popularity has been boosted by state television coverage that has cast him as the defender of nationalist interests and the protector of economic and social stability. He has accused America of instigating protests to weaken Russia and criticised plans for the US-led Nato missile defence system based in Europe. Mr Putin insisted yesterday that the planned missile shield would target Russia's nuclear deterrent and undermine global stability. "When one party gets an illusion that it's invulnerable for a retaliatory strike by another, that stokes up aggressive behaviour," he said. We consider that extremely dangerous. He said president Barack Obama's policy of "resetting" ties with Russia had secured a nuclear arms reduction treaty and Russia's entry to the World Trade Organisation but had delivered "practically nothing" on the missile defence issue.