Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in a speech at the Munich Security Conference urged Western countries to end confrontation with Russia and instead collaborate with the country to prevent a new 'cold war,' the RIA Novosti news agency reported Saturday.
?€?There is still no united Europe, all world economies show weak growth. Conflicts rage in the Middle East and Northern Africa, we are in the middle of a migration collapse. Relations between the European Union and Russia are ruined,?€? Medvedev said, RIA Novosti reported.
Medvedev also described NATO?€™s relationship with Moscow as ?€?closed?€? and hostile.
?€?Almost every day they call Russia the main threat for NATO, Europe, the U.S. and other countries. It makes me wonder if we are in 2016 or in 1962,?€? he added.
Medvedev called sanctions on Russia ineffective and unprofitable, adding that the sanctions will not have the desired political effect.
The conflict in Ukraine needs to be regulated by the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, the prime minister said, RIA Novosti reported.
Medvedev's speech also focused on the fact that the spread of terrorism has become a global problem.
?€?Terrorism will become the new type of world war,?€? he said, adding that the world needs to unite to fight terrorism.
?€?I think that the Islamic State should thank my colleagues [heads of Western countries] that canceled collaboration with Russia's special services,?€? Medvedev said.
The Islamic State is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.