Vladimir Putin has criticised NATO for causing 'division' in Europe and dashing any hopes of a 'united' continent.
The President of Russia, 68, slammed NATO as a 'relic of the Cold War' in an opinion piece for German newspaper Zeit published today.
Marking 80 years since Germany invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, in Operation Barbarossa, Putin said NATO's creation was 'created for confrontation' out of the Cold War.
The politician said NATO's expansion and former Soviet republics joining the alliance dashed any hopes of Europe without any 'dividing lines', adding that Russia now wants to foster relations with a 'united' continent.
Vladimir Putin (pictured) has criticised NATO for causing 'division' in Europe and dashing any hopes of a 'united' continent
NATO, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is a military union between 30 European and North American countries that implements the North Atlantic Treaty, which was signed on April 4, 1949.
Putin wrote: 'Since 1999 there have been five more "waves" of NATO expansion, 14 other states joined the alliance, including former Soviet republics, which de facto dashed all hopes for a continent without dividing lines.'
He said Russia is open to a 'fair and creative cooperation' with Europe, arguing that security of the continent is only possible through combined efforts of all countries, including Russia.
He said tensions are currently growing in Europe and there is a risk of a new arms race, and suggested a common area of cooperation from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Putin continued: 'I would like to emphasise once again: Russia is calling for a comprehensive partnership with Europe to be re-established.'
As well as slamming NATO's expansion for causing divide, Putin also argued that many countries were faced with an 'ultimatum' either to cooperate with the West or Russia.
Marking 80 years since Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941 (Russian tanks pictured), he slammed NATO as a 'relic of the Cold War'
Putin (pictured) said Russia is open to a 'fair and creative cooperation' with Europe, arguing that security of the continent is only possible through combined efforts of all countries
He claimed this 'aggressive policy' led to the 2014 Ukrainian revolution and insisted that Europe's support of the protestors was not necessary as the government had already accepted their demands.
The Ukrainian crisis was sparked when President Viktor Yanukovych suspended preparations for greater integration within the European Union, leading to mass protests.
The Ukrainian government made the delay in a bid to maintain its economic relations with Russia, but the US and Europe supported the protestors rather than
