Russian Prime Minister accuses West of starting 'new Cold War' as tensions rise over Syria and Ukraine

Nato's Secretary General had accused Russia of 'intimidating its neighbours' and undermining stability in Europe

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev speaks at the 52nd Security Conference in Munich, Germany, 13 February 2016. (EPA)

The Russian Prime Minister has accused the West of starting a “new Cold War” as Nato expands its presence in eastern Europe and bitter arguments continue about Syria and Ukraine.

Dmitry Medvedev spoke at the Munich Security Conference shortly before John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, accused Russia of “repeated aggression” and killing civilians.

The country has come under heavy criticism for its intervention in Syria, where it is predominantly believed to be targeting anti-government rebels in support of Bashar al-Assad, and is under international sanctions for its annexation of Crimea.

Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato Secretary General, added to the pressure today by telling senior diplomats, politicians and defence officials a “more assertive” Russia was “destabilising the European security order”.

“Nato does not seek confrontation - we do not want a new Cold War,” he said.

“At the same time our response has to be firm.”

But Mr Medvedev responded strongly, blaming Nato itself for worsening tensions with a new missile system based in Romania and increased presence along the Russian border.

Soldiers of the Polish Army descend from an MI-8 helicopter during the NATO Noble Jump military exercises of the VJTF forces on June 18, 2015 in Zagan, Poland. (Getty Images)

“Nato's policies related to Russia remain unfriendly and opaque - one could go so far as to say we have slid back to a new Cold War,” he said.

Scoffing at what he said was a suggestion that Moscow may use nuclear weapons in a first strike, he quipped: “Sometimes I wonder if it's 2016 or if we live in 1962.”

The Russian Prime Minister called for sanctions on Russia implemented after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 to be lifted, saying they were “a road that leads nowhere”.

“The longer the sanctions continue, chances for the Europeans to keep their position at the Russian market as investors and suppliers are fading,” he added.

“That's why one has to act quickly.”

Syrian civilians among the rubble in rebel-held Aleppo after Russian-backed air strikes (AFP/Getty Images)

Mr Medvedev also defended his country’s intervention in Syria, saying it is targeting Isis and has been open with its goals.

A war of words has been raging between American and Russian defence officials over the bombing of hospitals and civilian areas in Aleppo, where regime forces are pushing to take territory from anti-government rebels.

Russia has insisted it is targeting Isis but the UN and monitoring groups claim data shows its air strikes have predominantly hit “moderate” rebels, who are styled as “terrorists” by Assad but viewed by the West as a legitimate and effective fighting force against Isis and other extremists.

Mr Kerry said Russia was defying the international community with its support for the Assad regime and separatists in eastern Ukraine.

“To date, the vast majority of Russia's attacks (in Syria) have been against legitimate opposition groups,” he said.

“To adhere to the agreement it made, Russia's targeting must change.”

He also said US sanctions would hold until Russia helps implement the Minsk agreement drawn up with the aim of ending the Ukrainian conflict.

A temporary “cessation of hostilities” in Syria was agreed in Munich in the early hours of Friday but hopes for a long-lasting truce are waning with Assad’s vow to retake the whole of Syria by force, and Saudi Arabia’s deployment of troops and planes in Turkey ahead of an expected intervention.

Additional reporting by agencies