MOSCOW, July 01. /ITAR-TASS/. The West has intensified its policy aimed at containing Russia, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

“We must understand that the events provoked in Ukraine have become a concentrated expression of the notorious containment policy being conducted in relation to Russia,” Putin said.

“The roots of this policy go deep into history and obviously and unfortunately this policy never ceased even after the end of the cold war,” Putin said at a meeting with Russian diplomats.

Eloquent speeches about the free choice and the European future conceal attempts to turn Ukraine into a dependent territory with all ensuing political, economic and social consequences.

“It is a pity that millions of ordinary people now have to pay for political games,” the Russian leader said.

“We need to understand clearly that the events provoked in Ukraine are the concentrated outcome of the notorious deterrence policy. As you may know, its roots go deep into history and it is clear that unfortunately, this policy did not end with the end of the Cold War,” he said.

“Our compatriots, Russians, people of other nationalities, their language, history, culture, legitimate rights that are guaranteed, incidentally, by pan-European conventions, have been endangered in Ukraine,” Putin said.

“What reaction did our partners expect of us?” Putin said.