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Putin said Russia is not homophobic, but that a Western willingness to embrace homosexuality and gender fluidity seemed excessive to him.

“Traditional values are more stable and more important for millions of people than this liberal idea, which, in my opinion, is really ceasing to exist.”

Putin also said he had the impression that liberal circles were set on using problems being experienced by the Catholic church to destroy the church.

In the wide-ranging interview Putin also said there was a danger of a new nuclear arms race because of America pulling out of key arms control treaties.

Putin said he was willing to work with the U.S. on arms control so the situation wouldn’t become aggravated.

He added that he believed his meeting with Britain’s Theresa May at the G20 summit this week could set the two countries on the path to better relations.

He said that the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter was an issue between intelligence agencies and should not be allowed to damage relations and economic interests shared by Britain and Russia.

Treason is the gravest crime possible and traitors must be punished

Put said May, since she is soon to step down as British leader, may have more scope to take long-sighted decisions about repairing ties with Moscow.

On Friday, May is expected to ask Putin to hand over the Salisbury poisoning suspects for trial in the UK.

The prime minister said she would use her first formal meeting with the Russian president since the nerve- agent attack on a former spy and his daughter last year to insist that those responsible were “brought to justice”.

But shortly before the planned meeting, Putin made clear that he had “zero tolerance” for traitors. In his interview with the Financial Times, he said: “Treason is the gravest crime possible and traitors must be punished. I am not saying that the Salisbury incident is the way to do it… but traitors must be punished.”