国际英语新闻:Putin sees growing military threats from outside

MOSCOW, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that there are growing threats to the country's national security.

"We see some countries increasingly render their policy toward unlimited offensive actions. As a result, the conflict potential grows in the regions of strategic importance for Russia," Putin said at a meeting with senior military officers, adding that "new threats emerge and Moscow cannot ignore."

To counter these threats, Russia is going to strength its military institutions as well as enhance cooperation with "peace-loving countries," said the president.

Putin added that Russian armed forces will increase frequency of drills this year, including strategic joint exercises with other countries, and beef up military presence in Crimea and the Arctic.

Russian armed forces conducted over 3,500 military drills last year and launched in late March a round of large-scale combat readiness drills across the country amid increasing NATO military deployment near Russian borders.