Though he emphasized that states should of course pursue their own national interests and “national spheres” warning of perceived Western encroachment. He said that it was now the duty in this modern age, for the world's ‘moral leaders’ (Russia and the United States) to uphold the modern international order, and if necessary intervene to stop dangerous ‘destabilizing elements’. The remarks marked a watershed for Putin’s public foreign policy, which was both vaguely revanchist referring openly to the Pan-Russian world, while at the same time conciliatory, calling the United States a ‘partner in resolving international issues’ and supporting a military doctrine of pre-emptive strikes and interventionism.