MOSCOW, September 10 (RIA Novosti) - The crisis in eastern Ukraine, which has been provoked by the West, is mainly used to resuscitate NATO, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
"The crisis in Ukraine, which was provoked and staged by some of our Western partners, is being used to resuscitate this military bloc," Putin said at a meeting on the development of the state arms procurement program for 2016-2025.
"It's all should be and will be taken into account in the decision-making related to the national security of our country. We must do everything possible to guarantee this security," the president stressed.
Putin, however, insisted that Russia would not allow itself to be drawn into an new round of arms race.
Following Crimea’s reunification with Russia in March 2014, NATO has been boosting its military presence close to Russia’s border. Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern over the increasing NATO military presence.
Ukrainian forces launched a military operation against independence supporters in the country’s southeastern regions in mid-April. According to the United Nations, the armed conflict has killed at least 3,000 and injured around 6,000 civilians.
