MOSCOW, January 1. /TASS/. Ukraine is not Russia’s adversary, while the West is, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"The problem is not that they are assisting our adversary. They are our adversary. They are using them (Ukrainians - TASS) to achieve their goals," Putin pointed out at a meeting with service members at a Moscow military hospital.

He explained that "it has been like that for centuries." "Ukraine per se is not our enemy," the president added.