Russian president slams West's policies in Middle east

Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Western countries for their policies in the Middle East and North Africa on Friday.

In an interview with journalists in Russia’s Vladivostok city, Putin reacted to the photos of Syrian toddlers Alan Kurdi (3) whose body washed ashore a Turkish coast as he and his family tried to reach the Greek islands.

“It was an expected development for us. We already said that there would be large-scaled problems if our Western partners continue their ongoing wrong policies in Muslim regions, the Middle East and North Africa.”

“So what is this wrong policy? It is imposing their own standards without considering the cultural, religious and national characteristics of the region.”

Pictures of a 3-year-old boy who washed up on Turkish shores after a boat carrying him and his family sank en route to the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea sparked an outpour of emotional reaction on social media.

Around 2,500 refugees and migrants have died or gone missing trying to reach Europe this year, according to the UN.