MOSCOW, Feb 21 /Prime-TASS/ -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he was concerned with the growing instability in the world due to the "aggressiveness" of certain "powerful forces" in certain unspecified nations.
"The geopolitical situation in the world is quite difficult, the balance of power has been undermined but a new structure of international security has not yet been established," Russian President Vladimir Putin told a conference of Russian Armed Forces officers Friday.
He expressed his concern about "the growing aggressiveness of some very influential powers in some countries," and said that therefore Russia's Armed Forces should be ready for tactical activities and mobilization.
He did not name the countries.
Russia's Armed Forces should also be adapted to perform tasks in the framework of the fight against terrorism, he said.
Russia needs professional, well-trained and well-equipped soldiers, he said.
"So our main goal is to re-equip the Armed Forces with the latest models of weapons," he said.
Commenting on the situation in Chechnya, Putin said that it is necessary to strengthen law enforcement in the republic, including local militia forces, which should play an important role in providing security.
Russian Armed Forces in Chechnya will be reduced gradually, taking into account the development of the political situation there, he noted.
Putin also said that discipline in the units should be improved and that actions contradicting military manuals should be eliminated.
After the conference, Putin met 15 officers in the ranks from lieutenant to captain to discuss the day-to-day life of servicemen.
At the meeting, Putin added that this year Russia plans to hold largest-scale training exercise of the Pacific Fleet in recent times.
He noted that representatives of neighboring states will take part in the training, as well as monitoring it.