Vladmir Putin accuses West of ‘standing with missiles on our doorstep’

By Jane Deith

Russian president Vladimir Putin has accused the West of “standing with missiles on our doorstep” and repeated his demand that Nato must not be allowed to expand to Ukraine.

During his lengthy annual news conference, Mr Putin said he welcomed talks due to take place next month with the United States, but insisted that what he called “Nato’s march to the East” was unacceptable, and refused to give any guarantees that Moscow would not launch an attack.

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