MOSCOW. June 14 (Interfax) - The Western allegations that Russia plans to attack Europe are an excuse for an arms race, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
"Russia's relations with the European Union [and] a number of European states have deteriorated. By the way, I have repeatedly said that this is not our fault. The anti-Russian propaganda campaign that involves rather high-ranking European leaders is accompanied by allegations of Russia's plans to attack Europe. [...] This is absolutely absurd. A mere excuse for an arms race," Putin said at the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday.
"The danger to Europe does not come from Russia. The main threat to the Europeans is the critical, growing and total dependence on the United States in the military, political, technological, ideological and information fields," he said.
"Europe is being increasingly pushed to the curb of global economic development, it has been plunged into the chaos of the acutest problems, including migration, and has been deprived of the status of an international subject and cultural identity. Sometimes it seems that ruling European politicians and members of the European bureaucracy are more afraid of falling out of Washington's favor than of losing the confidence of their own people, their own citizens," Putin said.