DHAKA: Russia president Vladimir Putin accused his US counterpart Barack Obama of a hostile approach towards Russia, warning in a Cold War-style tirade that Moscow would not be blackmailed by the West over Ukraine.

Putin fired off his combative comments in a interview with a Serbian newspaper, shortly before he arrives in Belgrade Thursday to a hero’s welcome from Russia’s loyal ally, reports The Straits Times.

Belgrade is staging its first military parade in 30 years to mark the 70th anniversary of its liberation from Nazi occupation, an event brought forward by four days to coincide with the visit by the Kremlin strongman.

In some of his most pugnacious comments yet on Russia-US ties, Putin took issue with Obama’s speech at the UN General Assembly last month, when he listed ‘Russia’s aggression’ in eastern Ukraine among top global threats, along with Islamic State in Iraq and Syria militants and Ebola.

BDST: 1716 HRS, OCT 16, 2014