Putin blames U.S. at annual news conference

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday slammed the United States and vowed to protect national interests.

"In the 1990s our strategic aviation stopped patrolling distant areas, while the U.S. bombers kept flying," Putin told reporters in his annual year-end news conference.

"Why did they do that? Who provokes whom?" he asked.

Noting that Russia has only two military bases abroad, in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan respectively, Putin said U.S. bases have been scattered around the world.

"What do U.S. nuclear weapons do in Europe? Who behaves more aggressively?" he questioned.

The president went on by saying that NATO has been approaching to Russian borders.

"If you do that, why can't we?" he said.

Russia wants equal relations with the rest of the world and always believes in the World Trade Organization rules, Putin said.

"But we have been sanctioned unilaterally and illegitimately," he added.

Comparing Russia to a bear, Putin said the country should not lower its guard, or it will lose its teeth and claws and become a hunter's trophy.

"Once the teeth and claws are ripped out, the bear will lose its significance and become nothing but a stuffed animal," he said.

"This is about the protection of our independence, our sovereignty and our right to exist," Putin added. Enditem