MOSCOW, April 16. /TASS/. A number of western leaders are trying to isolate and 'punish' Russia for pursuing an independent policy, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at the 4th Moscow international security conference on Thursday.

"Despite the attempts of some western leaders to isolate Russia and 'punish' us for an independent policy and protection of compatriots, we... are open for broad cooperation with partners across the globe, in Europe, Asia, Africa and America," Shoigu said.

The minister recalled Russian President Vladimir statement that "confrontation and self-isolation were not our choice."

Shoigu expressed hope that the current security conference in Moscow, which gathered representatives of over 70 countries, will mark another step towards "a stable world based on equal security principles."