(VOVworld) – NATO’s expansion plan resulted in the current crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with German daily newspaper Bild on Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual end-of-year news conference in Moscow, Russia, December 17, 2015 (Photo: Reuters)

Mr. Putin said NATO’s expansion to the East exacerbates the crisis after the Cold War. Mr. Putin said Russia had warned NATO not to have wrong action in Libya, Iraq and some other countries, which may revoke migration crisis in Europe. Regarding deteriorating relations with the EU, President Putin said Russia always gives top priority to protecting national interests but does not want to do it in a confronting way. Mr. Putin also said terrorism is threatening the world and is a great challenge which requires close cooperation between countries in this fight against terrorism.