Putin Ally Says NATO Focus On Russia Made Brussels Attacks Possible

[news]

A prominent Russian official accused the Brussels-based NATO of neglecting its home turf to antagonize Russia instead, leaving the Belgian city vulnerable to Tuesday's terror attacks.

Alexey Pushkov, head of Russia’s parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, said on Twitter that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was enabling "people to blow themselves up from right under his nose" while NATO was "combatting the imaginary threat of Russia." 

Neither the Kremlin nor NATO immediately responded to Pushkov's provocative words, Newsweek reported. Stoltenberg condemned the "cowardly attack" and pledged that "terrorism will not defeat democracy."






Stoltenberg recently initiated plans to augment NATO forces in Russia's neighboring countries to thwart Russia's aggression after its intervention in Ukraine and annexation of Crimea, AFP reported. He accused Russia of using force to change its borders.

Pushkov, an ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, later expressed condolences to those affected by the Brussels attacks. "Europe should realize where this evil threat is coming from and unite forces with Russia," he wrote, according to Newsweek.

Separate bombing attacks at Brussels' airport and subway system have left dozens dead and hundreds injured.


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