Vladimir Putin suggested that Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is being manipulated by others to serve in their best interests.

The Russian president called the 16-year-old a "kind and sincere girl," but alleged that she does not understand the complex global issues such as barriers to clean energy in developing countries.

According to Putin, Russia has fulfilled its obligations under an international agreement to combat global warming

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Russian President Vladimir Putin alleged that Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg may have been manipulated to serve the interests of others.

"It's deplorable when someone is using children and teenagers in their interests," Putin said at an energy forum in Moscow on Wednesday, without going into detail.

Elaborating on the 16-year-old activist, Putin called Thunberg a "kind and sincere girl" but claimed that she does not understand complex global issues such as barriers to clean energy in developing countries. "I don't share exultation about Greta Thunberg," he said.

Read more: French President Emmanuel Macron says Greta Thunberg will 'antagonize societies' after she filed a lawsuit accusing France of inaction on global warming

Thunberg, who has inspired thousands of other students to demonstrate for action against climate change by skipping school, criticized world leaders at the United Nations climate summit in September. She claimed heads of government were not doing enough about the issues at hand, asking them: "How dare you?"

According to Putin, Russia has fulfilled its obligations under an international agreement to combat global warming.