Putin accuses West of seeking to destabilize Russia

REUTERS

In particular, Putin says that the destabilization may take place during the presidential elections in 2018, when he might run for a fourth term in office.

"Western intelligence [agencies are] planning actions for the period of election campaigns in 2016-2018," he said.

"The West is using a ‘whole set of tools’ to restrain Russia – starting from political isolation and economic pressure and finishing by a large-scale information war and methods of its special services," Putin said.

"Such attempts to intimidate Russia will never succeed," he said.

As reported earlier, the relations between Russia and the West deteriorated after Moscow annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea and supported armed militants in eastern Ukraine.