’Problematic’ Putin ’crossed all boundaries,’ says former president

Russian President Vladimir Putin is 'problematic' and has 'crossed all boundaries', former Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga commented has said.

"The picture has become clearer, as those Western politicians, who wish to cooperate with Russia and Putin, are forced to admit that he is problematic," Vike-Freiberga told LNT TV show 900 sekundes.

Putin's understanding of international relations radically differs from internationally accepted standards, the first female President of Latvia commented. 

She stressed that Latvia's accession to NATO has made the national armed forces meet certain obligations thereby improving state defense capabilities.

"If Latvia had not joined NATO, it could neither protect itself, nor seek help from other countries. The fact that Latvia is now part of NATO, has forced it to improve its national security not only in regard to the armed forces, but in other fields as well," the former president added.

Putin declared on Tuesday that Russia will use its 'entire arsenal' to defend the rights of ethnic Russians abroad.

"I want everyone to understand - our country will vigorously continue to defend the rights of Russians and our compatriots abroad, using the entire arsenal available - from political and economic means to humanitarian operations under the international law - the right to self-defense," Putin is quoted as saying by the LETA news agency.

"When I talk about Russians and Russian-speaking citizens, I mean people who identify themselves as part of the vast "Russian world" - not necessarily people of Russian ethnicity, but those who consider themselves Russian," Putin said.

The Russian president defended his actions in Crimea earlier this by saying he could not leave Russian nationals to 'militant nationalists.'