20 Dec 2018 13:43

Skripal affair just pretext for attacking Russia - Putin

MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) - The Skripal affair is simply a pretext for organizing another attack on Russia, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"There are a lot of sanctions against Russia. They keep talking about it. [...] It's a politicized Russophobic approach. It's a pretext, just a pretext for organizing another attack on Russia," Putin said at his annual press conference on Thursday, discussing the Skripal affair

"If it hadn't been the Skripals, they would have invented something else, that's obvious to me," he said.

The United Kingdom's only goal in this situation is to prevent Russia's development as a potential competitor, Putin said.

"I don't see any other goals," Putin said.