Crisis in Ukraine was provoked by Western countries to resuscitate NATO - Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed Western countries for starting the crisis in Ukraine and said the current situation in Ukraine is being used to resuscitate NATO.

"We have very many new threats. As you know, a decision has recently been made to increase NATO forces in Eastern Europe. The crisis in Ukraine, which was essentially provoked and created by some of our Western partners, is now being used to resuscitate this military bloc," Putin said at a Wednesday meeting on the work on the draft version of the state armaments program for the 2016-2025 period.

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