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Putin calls on West to stop hysteria and acknowledge Russia has national interests

MOSCOW, March 18. /ITAR-TASS/. President Vladimir Putin has urged the West to "stop hysteria" and acknowledge that Russia has its own national interests which have to be respected.

"The West should stop hysteria, drop the "cold War" rhetoric and acknowledge the obvious fact: Russia is an independent states; it has its own national interest that have to be taken into account and respected," Putin said in his address in connection with Crimea's integration into the Russian Federation.

Even today, the West is continuing the notorious policy of restraining Russia, he said.

"We have all reasons to believe that the policy of restraining Russia which western states pursued in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries is continuing today," the president said. "They keep trying to drive us into a corner for having our own position and defending it.

Putin's statement on Crimea's application to join Russia. Live