(VOVworld) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday called on security agencies to enhance their capability to deal with current challenges and threats in the context of increasing tension between Russia and the West related to Ukraine’s crisis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: AP)

Speaking on the traditional day of Russia’s security forces, the Russian leader said the current challenges and threats and instability require Russian security forces to enhance their ability. He said the major task of Russian special forces is to fight against international terrorism and any scheme of foreign secret agents to destroy Russia’s economic and political interests.

On the same day, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the new sanctions of the US and Canada on Russia are destroying the effort to resolve Ukraine’s crisis. It stressed that Moscow is preparing measures to retaliate to those sanctions.