Putin blames US for migrant crisis in Europe

Vladimir Putin has blamed Europe's migrant crisis on the US, for imposing its standards on the Middle East and Africa while failing to understand their culture and traditions. Emma Burrows reports from Moscow.

 Emma Burrows, Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday blamed the migrant crisis in Europe on the United States for imposing its own standards on countries in the Middle East and Africa while failing to understand their culture and traditions.

In the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, Putin told the media that it was an "absolutely expected crisis."

"We in Russia, and your humble servant, said several years ago that there would be massive problems if our so-called Western partners carry out what I have always called an 'incorrect' foreign policy, especially in the regions of the Muslim world, in the Middle East and north Africa, which continues to this day," he said.

Europe 'blindly following American instructions'

Putin said that he was "surprised" to see the media in the US criticize Europe's "cruel" treatment of migrants when the country is not affected by the crisis. He continued to say that Europe is "blindly following American instructions," and suffering badly, according to reports in Russian state media.

His comments come a day after the spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said Europe could learn from Russia how to deal with the refugees. She said Russia had taken in hundreds of thousands of refugees from Ukraine, saying "these people were provided with shelter, food and benefits."

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http://www.dw.com/en/putin-blames-us-for-migrant-crisis-in-europe/a-18694852