Putin Says NATO Countries Indirectly Involved In Ukraines Crimes Against Civilians

Weapon supplies to Ukraine free-of-charge by NATO countries makes them an accomplice, albeit indirectly, to crimes committed by Kiev against civilians in the regions that broke away from it in the east, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday.

"It is not a simple military cooperation, as they (NATO countries) do not get money in return. They are unilaterally supplying weapons (to Ukraine), which means that they are involved  at least indirectly in the crimes committed by the Kiev regime, including the shelling of residential areas in Novorossiya and Donetsk," Putin told the Moscow.Kremlin.Putin tv show.

The president also said that Russia should keep an eye on NATO member states' nuclear potentials because the alliance had declared a strategic defeat of Russia as its main goal.

Western countries have been supplying Ukraine with various types of weapon systems, including air defense missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery, and anti-aircraft guns since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine a year ago.