Russia launched its military buildup along the Ukrainian border because it could no longer "tolerate" NATO's eastward expansion and "gradual invasion" of Ukraine, according to a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We have seen the gradual invasion of NATO into the Ukrainian territory with its infrastructure, with its instructors, with supplies of defensive and offensive weapons, teaching the Ukrainian military and so forth. That brought us to the red line, a situation where we couldn’t tolerate it anymore," he said.

Participating in a television program, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "The stage for the current border crisis was set decades ago, in the 1990s."

Nearly 100,000 Russian troops have recently gathered near Ukraine, raising fears that Russia may invade the country shortly.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-will-happen-if-russian-troops-invade-ukraine-431684">Pictures: What will happen if Russian troops invade Ukraine?</a>

"When Germany was reunited and when the then-Soviet Union and Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev said OK to that, there was a promise by American side.Unfortunately, not fixed in a juridical, in a legally binding guaranteeing document, but it — there was a guarantee that NATO would never ... expand its military infrastructure or political infrastructure eastwards, " Peskov said.&nbsp;

"Unfortunately, the opposite thing started to happen since then, and NATO's military infrastructure started to get closer and closer to the borders of the Russian Federation," he added, saying that recent actions by the U.S. military led Russia to feel that its national security was being "endangered." 
 
Watch | Ukraine crisis continues to escalate with Russia &amp; the US harden stances in talks

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According to Peskov, a professional diplomat and veteran Putin spokesman, NATO is a "weapon of confrontation," not a "dove of peace."

Russia has asked for an assurance that Ukraine will not join NATO, which it believes would pose a serious threat to its security.&nbsp;

If security discussions with the US and NATO fail, Russia will not consider military action, but it will be ready to respond if its concerns are disregarded, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.&nbsp;

Some of the red lines, according to Peskov, are NATO's reluctance to guarantee not to admit Ukraine as a member, put offensive weapons on its soil, or halt advancing military facilities to the Russian border.He stated that the Kremlin wanted NATO to begin considering its concerns.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia launched its military buildup along the Ukrainian border because it could no longer "tolerate" NATO's eastward expansion and "gradual invasion" of Ukraine, according to a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia launched its military buildup along the Ukrainian border because it could no longer "tolerate" NATO's eastward expansion and "gradual invasion" of Ukraine, according to a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We have seen the gradual invasion of NATO into the Ukrainian territory with its infrastructure, with its instructors, with supplies of defensive and offensive weapons, teaching the Ukrainian military and so forth. That brought us to the red line, a situation where we couldn’t tolerate it anymore," he said. Participating in a television program, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "The stage for the current border crisis was set decades ago, in the 1990s." Nearly 100,000 Russian troops have recently gathered near Ukraine, raising fears that Russia may invade the country shortly. Pictures: What will happen if Russian troops invade Ukraine? "When Germany was reunited and when the then-Soviet Union and Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev said OK to that, there was a promise by American side.Unfortunately, not fixed in a juridical, in a legally binding guaranteeing document, but it — there was a guarantee that NATO would never ... expand its military infrastructure or political infrastructure eastwards, " Peskov said. "Unfortunately, the opposite thing started to happen since then, and NATO's military infrastructure started to get closer and closer to the borders of the Russian Federation," he added, saying that recent actions by the U.S. military led Russia to feel that its national security was being "endangered." Watch | Ukraine crisis continues to escalate with Russia & the US harden stances in talks According to Peskov, a professional diplomat and veteran Putin spokesman, NATO is a "weapon of confrontation," not a "dove of peace." Russia has asked for an assurance that Ukraine will not join NATO, which it believes would pose a serious threat to its security. If security discussions with the US and NATO fail, Russia will not consider military action, but it will be ready to respond if its concerns are disregarded, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Some of the red lines, according to Peskov, are NATO's reluctance to guarantee not to admit Ukraine as a member, put offensive weapons on its soil, or halt advancing military facilities to the Russian border.He stated that the Kremlin wanted NATO to begin considering its concerns. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia cannot have NATO creeping into Ukraine anymore, Putin spokesman says

Russia`s President Vladimir Putin`s spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the actresses who have claimed sexual abuse by disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein "prostitutes" and poured scorn on journalists who have accused a Russian lawmaker of sexual harassment.

Peskov, speaking to students in Moscow, said that the actresses who spoke out against Weinstein had become stars and "did a lot that is not compatible with the concept of honour and dignity."

"They earned hundreds of millions of dollars and 10 years later, they say that Weinstein is to blame," Peskov said in unusually outspoken comments reported by the Echo of Moscow popular radio station.

"Maybe he is a bastard but none of them went to the police! No, they wanted to earn 10 million dollars."

"What do you call a woman who slept with a man for 10 million dollars? She`s called a prostitute," Peskov said.

He was responding to a question about accusations of sexual harassment made by journalists against a senior member of the Russian parliament.&nbsp

Several reporters with Western or independent media have accused Leonid Slutsky, head of the foreign affairs committee in parliament`s lower house, the State Duma, of making lewd sexual comments and groping.

The parliamentary ethics commission ruled that Slutsky had not committed any violations, prompting top media to boycott Slutsky and pull their journalists from covering the lower house.

Peskov has so far refused to comment on this in his official capacity, but he told students the women should have reported the offences immediately.

"If Slutsky attacked a poor journalist, where was she, why did she put up with it?" he asked.&nbsp

"They got felt up in his office. Girls probably see better, but he can probably be seen as a not very pleasant man. If he felt you up if he harassed you, why were you silent?"

"Why did so much time pass and then you go to the ethics commission? This just amazed me."

In Russia`s macho culture claims of harassment are rare and the topic is largely taboo. There is also no law defining sexual harassment.

'What do you call a woman who slept with a man for 10 million dollars? She`s called a prostitute," Putin spokesman calls Weinstein accusers `prostitutes`said

Russia`s President Vladimir Putin`s spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the actresses who have claimed sexual abuse by disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein "prostitutes" and poured scorn on journalists who have accused a Russian lawmaker of sexual harassment. Peskov, speaking to students in Moscow, said that the actresses who spoke out against Weinstein had become stars and "did a lot that is not compatible with the concept of honour and dignity." "They earned hundreds of millions of dollars and 10 years later, they say that Weinstein is to blame," Peskov said in unusually outspoken comments reported by the Echo of Moscow popular radio station. "Maybe he is a bastard but none of them went to the police! No, they wanted to earn 10 million dollars." "What do you call a woman who slept with a man for 10 million dollars? She`s called a prostitute," Peskov said. He was responding to a question about accusations of sexual harassment made by journalists against a senior member of the Russian parliament. Several reporters with Western or independent media have accused Leonid Slutsky, head of the foreign affairs committee in parliament`s lower house, the State Duma, of making lewd sexual comments and groping. The parliamentary ethics commission ruled that Slutsky had not committed any violations, prompting top media to boycott Slutsky and pull their journalists from covering the lower house. Peskov has so far refused to comment on this in his official capacity, but he told students the women should have reported the offences immediately. "If Slutsky attacked a poor journalist, where was she, why did she put up with it?" he asked. "They got felt up in his office. Girls probably see better, but he can probably be seen as a not very pleasant man. If he felt you up if he harassed you, why were you silent?" "Why did so much time pass and then you go to the ethics commission? This just amazed me." In Russia`s macho culture claims of harassment are rare and the topic is largely taboo. There is also no law defining sexual harassment.

Putin spokesman calls Weinstein accusers 'prostitutes'

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Russia cannot have NATO creeping into Ukraine anymore, Putin spokesman says

Putin spokesman calls Weinstein accusers 'prostitutes'