Putin said in an interview with Bloomberg Television released on Monday that there had been signals that Obama could review his predecessor's plans for a missile defense system in Central Europe and NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia.
"What we have heard in recent weeks, or even months, gives us cause for cautious optimism," Putin told Bloomberg.
Obama has demanded more analysis of a planned missile base in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic. Bush said the missile shield was needed to counter possible strikes from Iran and North Korea. Moscow, which has treated the plans as a security threat, warned late last year it might place short-range missiles and tracking systems near Poland in response.
"In Obama's inner circle, they are saying there is no need to rush it, and it needs to be further analyzed, and we welcome such statements," Putin said in the interview.
Putin also said he welcomed positive signals from Obama on NATO expansion. The former Russian president said that Obama's team had indicated that "it is possible to provide security for Ukraine and Georgia in various ways, and admitting them to NATO is not essential now."
"We are ready to take part in any discussion on finding the best possible ways of ensuring international security," he added.
The two ex-Soviet states' bids to join programs leading to membership in the Western military alliance were put on hold again by NATO countries in early December despite strong backing from President George W. Bush.
Putin also blamed Washington for the recent natural gas dispute with Ukraine, which left much of Europe without fuel for almost two weeks earlier this month, saying it had contributed to political instability in the country.
"What has been happening in Ukraine in recent years is to some extent the result of the activities of the previous U.S. administration and the European Union," Putin said referring to the street protests that swept pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to power in early 2005.
Russia cut off gas supplies to Ukraine and later to Europe via Ukraine after talks on gas debt and prices for 2009 broke down in late December. More than 20 EU countries were affected.
Gas monopoly Gazprom said Ukraine looked to be "dancing to music being played outside the country" referring to Kiev's strategic partnership deal with Washington, signed last month.
Putin and Tymoshenko signed a deal on January 19 to restart supplies. Yushchenko, who has been at odds with his premier ever since the "orange revolution," is demanding new talks, however.
Relations between Moscow and Washington plunged to a post-Cold War low under President George W. Bush over missile defense, NATO expansion, differences on Iran's nuclear program, and most recently over Russia's five-day war with U.S. ally Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.
