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Russian President Vladimir Putin has said NATO is of Russia's biggest . NATO is a North American and European defence . Countries guarantee to act if any state is threatened. Tensions between Russia and NATO started after the of WWII. The , Russian-led Warsaw Pact started in 1955 and led to the Cold War intensifying. Relations worsened last week when Russian ally Ukraine made new to join NATO. Russia accused NATO of using Ukraine as a "frontline of ".

Mr Putin said that for the time, Russia would use conventional "as part of strategic deterrent " if Russia is under threat. A NATO spokeswoman said the NATO was following international over Ukraine and was not threatening Russia. She said NATO will assess Ukraine's to join the alliance in the same as with any other country. She added: "This is an between NATO and the countries aspiring to ." She said Russia's actions in Ukraine were breaking international and threatening European security.