Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has urged all countries across the world to put aside their differences and join forces in the fight against terrorism.
"I am deeply convinced that we should be together in this struggle," Medvedev told journalists on Wednesday upon arrival in the Philippine capital, Manila, for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
He said governments can counter terrorism individually, but at a much greater cost than if they act together.
“[Russia] will continue to fight against terrorism alone and we will win this battle. The West can probably withstand it (terrorism) as well. The only question that remains is at what price?”
Medvedev also censured the West’s unfriendly stance toward Russia in the light of the recent acts of terror, including the downing of a Russian passenger plane in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, which killed 224 passengers on October 31, and the Paris attacks on Friday night, which saw at least 129 people slaughtered.
“This (terrorism threat) makes the position of several Western nations toward Russia even more peculiar. It is a short-sighted and harmful position for world, which is directed against their own people,” the premier said.
Relations between the West and Russia have been strained over the crisis in Ukraine and the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The US and its allies accuse Moscow of sending troops into eastern Ukraine in support of pro-Russia forces fighting against Kiev. Moscow has long denied involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
Regarding the Syria crisis, some Western states support militants fighting against Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, saying he must leave power, while Russia and some other countries, including Iran and China, back him as an important part of a potential peace process.