"Like the one created by fascist regimes": Putin announced the construction of a new axis by the West

The West began to build a new axis by analogy with the one built by the fascist regimes of Germany and Italy, as well as militaristic Japan. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin on the air of the TV channel "Russia 24".

The head of state recalled that in 2022 the North Atlantic Alliance agreed on a new strategic concept for the development of the bloc. The document explicitly states that NATO is going to develop relations with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, a number of States concerned are listed there.

"There's New Zealand, and Australia, and South Korea, and so on ... And they announce that they will create a global NATO. Well, what is it?" said Putin.

At the same time, the Russian leader noted that in early 2023, the UK and Japan signed an agreement on mutual openness: on establishing contacts and developing relations in the military sphere.

According to him, these events, as well as the creation of "more and more new alliances" by the United States of America, give grounds for Western analysts and political scientists to say that the West is building new axes.

"That is why Western analysts themselves say that this is not us, they say that the West is beginning to build a new axis like the one that was created in the 1930s by fascist regimes in Germany and Italy and militaristic Japan," the Russian president explained.

• Vladimir Putin on the actions of the West to create new military blocs

Meanwhile, the head of state stressed that the statement that cooperation between Russia and China poses a threat to the West is "absolutely not true."

"We are not creating any military alliance with China. Yes, we have cooperation in the field of military-technical cooperation, we do not hide, it is transparent, there is nothing secret there, "Putin said.

According to him, Moscow is developing military cooperation with Beijing, in particular, joint exercises are being held. "By the way, not only with China, but also with other countries. We are still continuing, despite the events in Donbass, Zaporozhye and Kherson. We continue everything, it is all transparent, but this is not a military alliance," he added.

Putin also called envious those who declare Russia's dependence on China.

"These are not skeptics, but envious. Why? Because the dependence of, say, the European economy on China – it is increasing at a much greater pace than the Russian one, much more. China's trade is growing with Europe, which is united at a very high pace. So everything is the opposite, let them think better about themselves, "the Russian president emphasized.

• Vladimir Putin on relations with China

According to Vladimir Putin, the West specifically announced the supply of shells to Kiev during negotiations between Russia and China. He also noted that right before the meeting of the leaders with the press, it became known about the UK's plans to supply the Kiev regime with shells with depleted uranium.

"As if the Westerners did it on purpose in order to somehow disrupt our negotiations or influence them, I do not even know why, but it seems that this was done deliberately," the president said.

Xi Jinping paid a three-day visit to Russia (March 20-22). Following the talks between the leaders of Russia and China, joint statements were signed on deepening bilateral relations, comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation.

On the destruction of Western technology

In addition, Vladimir Putin answered the question why the supply of Western military equipment to Ukraine is not always stopped on distant approaches.

"Something our military manages to do, something is not. Transported secretly, at night. But what they can get, they get. But such a goal, of course, exists, "the Russian president emphasized.

According to him, the Russian military takes the destruction of Ukrainian weapons very seriously: "No one should have any doubts that someone is indifferent to this, through their sleeves ... Of course not."

According to the Pentagon, the United States during the presidency of Joe Biden allocated military assistance to Kiev in the amount of $ 33.2 billion, while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance agrees on new goals for the production of key types of weapons for Ukraine and its own defense. Along with this, he called on the countries of the military-political bloc to quickly increase their military budgets.