Putin: Russia not responsible for Georgia conflict

SOCHI, Russia (CNN) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday his country was not to blame for starting the conflict with Georgia.

In an exclusive interview with CNN in the Black Sea city of Sochi, Putin also accused the United States of orchestrating the conflict.

The former Russian president also announced economic measures which he said were unrelated to the fighting with Georgia. Nineteen U.S. poultry meat companies will be banned from exporting their products to Russia because they have failed health and safety tests, and 29 other companies have been warned to improve their standards or face the same ban, Putin said.