West need not fear Russia, says Putin

Putin, who was being interviewed by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, was quoted by the BBC, as saying that he could not understand why the Western alliance was bolstering its military presence in Eastern Europe because of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

NATO has accused Russia of backing rebels in Ukraine, a charge which Moscow denies.

Three Baltic countries are preparing to ask for a permanent presence of NATO troops on their soil to act as a deterrent to the Russian military. A 5,000-strong NATO "spearhead" force is being established and six locations are being prepared from which the force can be deployed.

Putin said some countries were simply taking advantage of people's fears with regard to Russia to receive supplementary military, economic, financial or some other aid.

He was speaking as heavy fighting erupted in Ukraine this week, focusing on the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, west of rebel-held Donetsk.

The opposing sides have accused each other of shattering February's Minsk ceasefire that calls for a withdrawal of heavy weapons from the frontline.