Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking after European Union criticism of Russia's Chechen policy, warned today that attempts to "justify terrorism" could undermine the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition.
"I am very concerned about a situation in which someone here or there tries to put forward the thesis, or bring into the public consciousness, that there may be something that can justify terrorism," he told Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma in remarks broadcast on Rossiya state television.
"This is absolutely unacceptable, not only because it could lead to the destruction of the anti-terrorist coalition, but it would also almost certainly provide support for people with inhuman aims who use terrorist methods."
Putin made no mention of any individual or state. But his comments came five days after a Russia-EU summit at which he made a strongly worded and impassioned defence of his military drive to crush separatists in Chechnya - a policy that has hardened since last month's Chechen raid on a Moscow theatre.
Danish Prime Minister Ander Fogh Rasmussen, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, told Danish radio on the sidelines of the summit with Putin that military action could not provide a long-term solution to the Chechnya problem. Other EU leaders have also called for peace negotiations.