(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 16 - "During the special operation in Ukraine, documented evidence was obtained that testifies to the fact that they were created near our borders of biological weapons laboratories".
This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin quoted by the Russian agency Tass.
"The US bio-laboratories in the post-Soviet space collect biological materials and study the specificities of the spread of dangerous diseases. In Ukraine they were developing biological weapons," Putin told a senior member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Moscow.
As for Sweden and Finland, "Russia has no problems" with them, and "possible NATO membership does not create any threats for Moscow", Putin said, adding however that "the expansion of (NATO) military infrastructure in these territories will certainly bring about the our response, "he added.
Finally Putin declared that "there are extremists in all countries, yet Ukraine has made national heroes of its Nazis".
(HANDLE).