The US president has launched a broadside against the Russian president, accusing him of attempting to recreate the glories of the Soviet empire. Asked about the situation in Ukraine, Barack Obama said the G7 partner countries had discussed what to do if Russia 'doubled down on aggression inside Ukraine.' Continuing on Vladimir Putin, Obama said he has to decide whether he wanted to 'continue to wreck his country's economy and continue Russia's isolation in pursuit of a wrongheaded desire to recreate the glories of the Soviet empire