Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed on Friday the western policy in dealing with crises in the Middle East, noting that this policy led to the current European Union refugee crisis which was “absolutely expected.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed on Friday the western policy in dealing with crises in the Middle East, noting that this policy led to the current European Union refugee crisis which was “absolutely expected.”

The Russian leader stressed that only way to reverse the refugee flow streaming into Europe is to help people resolve problems at home, calling to establish an international coalition on extremism.

The Russian leader said that Moscow has frequently warned of major problems which Europe would face as a result of Western policies in the Middle East and North Africa and extremist groups terrorizing people.

“I think the crisis was absolutely expected,” President Vladimir Putin told journalists on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.

“We in Russia, and me personally a few years ago, said it straight that pervasive problems would emerge, if our so-called Western partners continue maintaining their flawed ... foreign policy, especially in the regions of the Muslim world, Middle East, North Africa, which they pursue to date,” said Putin.

According to the Russian president, the main flaw of Western foreign policy is the imposition of their own standards worldwide without taking into account the historical, religious, national and cultural characteristics of particular regions.

The only way to reverse the refugee flow streaming into Europe is to help people resolve problems at home, Putin said.  

In this context the Russian leader stressed that the first step should be by creating a common and united front against Takfiri group, such as ISIL (the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Levant).

He called to establish an international coalition on extremism, noting that he had also been in talks about such a coalition with the leaders of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and others.

"We really want to create some kind of an international coalition to fight terrorism and extremism," Putin said.

"To this end, we hold consultations with our American partners — I have personally spoken on the issue with US President Obama."

The Russian president was quoted as also saying it was “premature” to talk about Russia taking part in military operations against ISIL.

"But we are already giving Syria quite serious help with equipment and training soldiers, with our weapons," he added.