Moscow is focused primarily on peaceful mechanisms, but if necessary is ready to defend itself with all available means, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with members of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, TASS reported.

"There can be only one answer from our side: a consistent fight for our national interests. We will do so. Let no one count on anything else. Yes, we will do it in different ways and means. First of all, of course, we will focus on peaceful means. But if there is nothing else, we will defend ourselves by all the means at our disposal," he noted.