Putin admonishes NATO for expansion, asks for Navalny proof

Moscow (dpa), 23 Dec, 2021 -  Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday accused NATO of massive expansion to the east with no regards for his country’s security interests.

There have already been “five waves of expansion” despite assurances that the Western military alliance would not endanger Russian security, Putin said at his annual press conference in Moscow.

He was particularly critical of Ukraine’s possible admission to NATO. Russian troops have built up along Ukraine’s border in recent weeks.

“Another NATO expansion eastward is unacceptable. What’s not to understand about it?” the Kremlin leader asked. “We want to consolidate our security.”

Asked if he could guarantee that Russia would not invade Ukraine, Putin replied it would act as its security interests demanded. 

Putin also called for evidence on the attack on his political opponent Alexei Navalny. No one had presented evidence of the “alleged poisoning” with the chemical agent Novichok. 

His comments came despite laboratories, including one run by the German Armed Forces, having provided evidence of the poisoning.

The Kremlin chief also defended the controversial crackdown on dissidents and so-called “foreign agents,” which have included non-governmental organizations and media groups.
He said Russia was too big to be influenced from the outside.
“You can only corrode it from within,” he added.