Putin warns of violence if NATO fails to cooperate with Russia on fighting terrorism
Record ID:
877843
Putin warns of violence if NATO fails to cooperate with Russia on fighting terrorism
- Title: Putin warns of violence if NATO fails to cooperate with Russia on fighting terrorism
- Date: 2nd June 2017
- Summary: ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA (JUNE 2, 2017) (RUSSIAN POOL) PANEL DISCUSSION PARTICIPANTS SEATED ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "Now there is no Warsaw pact, no Soviet Union, but NATO still exists. This brings up the question "What for?" There is only one answer - no matter what is said about it: it is an instrument of U.S. foreign policy." INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI SITTING ON PANEL NEXT TO PUTIN AS HE IS SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING (AUDIO STARTS OVER WIDE OF STAGE): "So far we see development of (NATO's) military infrastructure and that it is getting closer to our borders (CLOSE OF PUTIN) and this concerns us. We have repeatedly spoken about this publicly." DISCUSSION HOST LISTENING AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING (AUDIO STARTS OVER SHOT OF HOST): "The United States demand from its allies (CLOSE OF PUTIN) to increase military spending and at the same time say that NATO is not going to attack anyone. But if you are not going to attack anyone why do you need to increase military spending? (DIFFERENT CAMERA ANGLE OF PUTIN) This raises questions." WIDE OF STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "Professionals want to cooperate, professionals want it. (WIDE SHOT) They understand the importance of this cooperation, the importance of information exchange. (AUDIENCE LISTENING) But on the political level, people are driving armoured vehicles, (CLOSE OF PUTIN) they are safe, it looks like they do not feel there is a threat to their own citizens. (WIDE OF STAGE) But if this continues we will receive (CLOSE OF PUTIN) blows in Germany, in Brussels, in the United States, in Russia. I've repeatedly said - we need to unite efforts in the fight against major threats, and today one of them is terrorism. (WIDE OF STAGE) If NATO is ready to work constructively in this direction - of course we will cooperate." WIDE OF STAGE
- Embargoed: 16th June 2017 14:44
- Keywords: NATO. terrorism Vladimir Putin Russian President
- Location: ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
- City: ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016JL52DJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday (June 2) Russia and the NATO military alliance needed to cooperate to fight terrorism because if they didn't there would be more attacks.
Putin, addressing the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, said however that he viewed NATO as an instrument of U.S. foreign policy and that Russia was worried to see its military infrastructure getting closer to its borders.
A suicide bombing in Britain's Manchester killed 22 people in May, raising concern across Europe. Cities including Paris, Nice, Brussels, St. Petersburg, Berlin and London have suffered militant attacks in the last two years.
Last month U.S. President Donald Trump called on NATO allies to spend more on defense and warned of more attacks like the Manchester bombing unless the alliance did more to stop militants.
The West has curtailed a number of contacts with Moscow in the military and security spheres, following U.S. and EU sanctions imposed on Russia over its annexation of Crimea and the role it played in the bloody uprising in eastern Ukraine. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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