Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused NATO of constantly trying to provoke Russia in an attempt to draw them into a confrontation.
He also said that members of the alliance continue to interfere in Russia’s domestic affairs.
RT reports:
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The accusations came as Putin addressed senior members of the Russian intelligence agency FSB on Thursday. The president said that over the past years the global security situation “has not improved, but on the contrary, many existing threats have only become more serious.”
NATO with its “newly-declared official mission to deter Russia” is one such threat, Putin said.
“This is the goal behind the expansion of this military bloc. It happened before, but now they have found a new justification which they believe to be serious,” Putin said.
“In fact, they are constantly provoking us, trying to drag us into a confrontation,” Putin stated, adding that NATO members “are continuing their efforts to interfere in our domestic affairs with the goal of destabilizing social and political order in Russia proper.”
Putin added that foreign intelligence agencies continue intensive operations in Russia.
“In the past year 53 foreign intelligence operatives and 386 agents of foreign intelligence services have been busted,” he said.
The president also expressed regret over Russia and Western nations no longer coordinating efforts to fight against common enemies such as terrorist groups.
“It’s in everyone’s interest to resume dialogue between the intelligence agencies of the United States and other members of NATO,” Putin said
Niamh Harris
If Putin wants peace like he says, he should prove it by giving Crimea back to the Ukraine.
There are none so blind then those who see but do not want to see, or deaf than those who do not want to hear. A sad world indeed as all most are blind and deaf.
Crimea belongs to Russia, what the drunk fuck Jeltzin did was wrong.How about USA give back the land they stole from Mexico
Putin should demonstrate he favours international rules and give back Crimean land and Crimean property that Pentagon already had bought and established when Putin held “election” pointing a machine gun in the head of US Marines at the Island.