Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit in Minsk, launched a scathing attack on Western nations, accusing them of betraying Russia by encouraging separatist movements and ignoring terrorism when it targets Russia.

In remarks carried by state-run outlets and agencies, Putin claimed that NATO and its allies have used Russia’s so-called “aggressiveness” to justify military buildup in Europe. He asserted that Russia’s repeated warnings and security concerns over NATO’s expansion have been “met with silence.”

“Everything is fine, as long as it is against Russia,” Putin said, referring to incidents such as bombings in Moscow and the activities of terrorist groups like the Islamic State. “No one wants to pay attention to this.”

The Russian leader accused the West of using separatism and terrorism as tools in their geopolitical struggle with Moscow. “The same happened when the collective West encouraged separatism in our country, and such an instrument of the fight against Russia as terrorism,” he said.

He also criticised NATO's strategic posture and its increasing defence spending, arguing it is based on misleading claims about Russia’s intentions. “What followed was one expansion wave after another,” Putin said, alleging that Western leaders had previously promised not to extend NATO eastward after the Cold War.

The remarks come amid continued tensions over the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year. Putin reiterated that the roots of the conflict predate Russia’s “special military operation” and are grounded in decades of what he described as Western deceit over NATO’s growth.

Putin’s comments follow closely on reports that he offered US President Donald Trump “help with Iran” — a gesture seen by some analysts as a diplomatic pivot aimed at breaking Western unity.

The Kremlin has increasingly sought to reframe the Ukraine war as a defensive measure against encroaching Western military and political influence in the region. Meanwhile, NATO has maintained that its expansion and operations are defensive in nature, designed to protect member states from external aggression.