Moscow. February 8. INTERFAX - The statement that Russia is behaving aggressively contradicts common sense - it is the NATO infrastructure that has approached the borders of the Russian Federation, and not vice versa, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"We are categorically against the expansion of NATO at the expense of new members in the east, because it poses a common threat to us - the further spread of NATO to our borders," Putin said at a press conference on Tuesday night following talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.
"We are not moving towards NATO, but NATO is moving towards us. Therefore, to say that Russia is behaving aggressively, at least, does not correspond to sound logic," Putin said.
He explained why Russia considers the possible admission of Ukraine into the alliance dangerous. According to Putin, the doctrinal documents of this country state that Russia is its opponent and that the return of Crimea by military means is possible. And if Ukraine wants to return Crimea by force, being a NATO country, there will be a military confrontation between Russia and the alliance.
