MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin says a draft bill banning US adoptions of Russian children is a legitimate response to a new US law that calls for sanctions on Russians deemed to be human rights violators. But he has not committed to signing it. He says the measure, which received overwhelming preliminary approval in parliament, is also a response to an alleged US failure to protect the rights of adopted Russian children. Speaking at his annual marathon news conference Thursday, Putin said while most Americans who adopt Russian children are “kind and honorable,” the protection for abuse victims is insufficient. The bill faces a few more steps before it can reach Putin. “I will make a decision depending on what is written there,” he said. The proposed adoption ban was added Wednesday as an amendment to a bill retaliating for the US law, sources said. — AP
