Ex-MI6 chief warns of Russia danger
Former head of UK Secret Intelligence Service known as MI6 warns of what he called Russia danger saying London must be prepared to take steps to defend itself and its allies.
Sir John Sawers who just recently retired from MI6 noted that Russia poses a state to state threat. He emphasized that dealing with such threats would require more defence spending.
In an interview with BBC, Sir Sawers also called on issues with Russia to be addressed by "increased dialogue". The former official said he was disappointed how, after the end of the Cold War, Russia's and Europe's paths had failed to converge.
According to the former chief of MI6, Russia's threat was not necessarily directly to the UK but to countries around its periphery.
Sir John described Russia as always having been an "issue of concern" for security services.
"The real problem is how we live with a Russia which feels very exposed. Putin's actions are ones of a leader who believes his own security is at stake..and here we've got nuclear bombers approaching the Cornish coast," he said.
His comments come after a year of fighting in eastern Ukraine between government forces and pro-Russian forces.
The EU has so far imposed visa bans and asset freezes on 151 individuals and 37 entities, and has imposed economic sanctions on Moscow over Ukraine crisis.
Russia says the threats by Western countries to impose new sanctions are indicative of their reluctance to facilitate peace in east Ukraine.
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