President Vladimir Putin said a draft bill banning U.S. adoptions of Russian children is a legitimate response to a new U.S. law that calls for sanctions on Russians deemed to be human rights violators, according to AP. But he has not committed to signing it. He said the measure, which received overwhelming preliminary approval in parliament, is also a response to an alleged U.S. 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 U.S. law. Several top officials, including Russia's foreign minister, spoke out against the proposal.
