"For political and economic reasons, Russia is not interested in seeing the defeat of the United States in Iraq," the Interfax news agency quoted Putin as saying.

"We are interested in bringing the Iraqi problem back to the United Nations," he added.

Russia has been one of the most outspoken opponents of the US-led war to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and has urged a diplomatic solution to the crisis within the framework of the United Nations.

"The quicker this happens the better for all countries involved in the conflict," Putin said in Tambov, south of Moscow.

"The Russian foreign ministry will do everything in its power to bring the Iraqi question back into the framework of the United Nations," he said, quoted by ITAR-TASS news agency.

Analysts have said Russia is making a major mistake by so furiously opposing the US-led invasion, throwing away any chance to influence the post-war situation or have a hand in Iraq's vast oil industry.

SPACE.WIRE