SOCHI, November 7. /TASS/. NATO is the world’s only remaining bloc and an outright anachronism, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion Club’s annual meeting.

"Only one bloc is now left in the world, which is united by forced obligations, rigid ideological dogmas and cliches. It’s the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which continues its expansion to the east of Europe, while also trying to expand its approaches to other parts of the world in breach of its own statutory documents. This is just an outright anachronism," the head of state noted.

According to him, Russia has repeatedly pointed to the destructive role that the bloc played after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. "I think the United States realizes that this tool is becoming unattractive and unnecessary, while they [the Americans] needed and still need it to rule their zone of influence. This is where conflicts come in handy," the Russian president added.