The Russian president said European leaders 'are frightening their populations with an imaginary threat coming from Russia,' adding that 'this threat does not exist and has never existed.' Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that any deployment of European troops to Ukraine would amount to "a war against Russia" and said Moscow did not "pose a threat" Key points and original sources are listed below.

• The Russian president said European leaders 'are frightening their populations with an imaginary threat coming from Russia,' adding that 'this threat does not exist and has never existed.'S1

• Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that any deployment of European troops to Ukraine would amount to "a war against Russia" and said Moscow did not "pose a threat"S2