‚Non-interference principle must be fit into European realities’

Western interference in Ukraine led to catastrophic consequences for the country, Putin said, suggesting measures to prevent the repetition of a similar scenario in other countries on the continent.

“The task is to fit the traditional principle of non-interference into modern European realities, initiating a serious international discussion of the issue. We all need some kind of a safety net in Europe, so that the Iraqi, Libyan, Syrian and Ukrainian precedents won’t turn into a contagious disease.”
‘Blackmail wrong tool in international relations’

President Putin criticized Washington, which already imposed sanctions on Moscow after the accession of the Republic of Crimea into Russia, for making efforts to scuttle Russia’s 1.12 billion euro deal on Mistral warships with France.

“We know about the pressure that our American partners put on France to prevent the supply of Mistral [warships] to Russia. And we know that they hinted that if the French won’t supply Mistral [warships] then sanctions against their banks will be removed or, at least, minimized. What is this, if not blackmail?”

However, he once against stressed the importance of close cooperation between Moscow and Washington. ….