Russian President Vladimir Putin today warned foreign countries not to “cross the red line” in their relations with Russia and that Moscow authorities would respond harshly and swiftly to any foreign provocation.
Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated to near Cold War-era lows, with Moscow authorities at odds with the West over the jailing of Russia’s top opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, a heavy troop build-up on Russia’s border with Ukraine and a string of spy scandals.
Delivering his state of the nation address to a crowd of congressmen and local chiefs, which was broadcast on state-run television, Poutine said, “In some countries they have started an abominable habit of blaming everything on Russia, and this is some kind of movement, a new movement.”
Poutine noted that Moscow wants to have “good relations” with all members of the international community, even those countries that do not agree.
Poutin also mentioned today that Moscow authorities will respond harshly and quickly to any foreign provocation.
If anyone sees our goodwill as weakness…they will know that Russia’s response will be asymmetrical and harsh,” he said.
Poutine said, “I hope that no one will want to cross the red line in relations with Russia. Where the red line will be, we will decide for ourselves.”
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