FARMVILLE, VIRGINIA ¨C U.S. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence called Russian President Vladimir Putin a ¡°small and bullying leader¡± on Tuesday and condemned his actions in Syria, taking a harder line than Donald Trump at a contentious debate with Democratic rival Tim Kaine.
Pence¡¯s denunciation of Putin for his interference in the Syrian civil war and support for Syrian President Bashar Assad was a departure from the frequent praise of Putin by Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, who has called him a better leader than U.S. President Barack Obama and said he could work with him.
¡°The small and bullying leader of Russia is now dictating terms to the United States,¡± Pence said. ¡°The greatest nation on earth just withdraws from talks about a cease-fire, while Vladimir Putin puts a missile defense system in Syria.¡±
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