Gorbachev accuses US of new Cold War

Moscow: Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev has accused the US of having dragged Russia into a new Cold War, and did not rule out the possibility that Washington would risk taking steps toward military confrontation.

The US has lost its way in the jungle and is taking us there, Gorbachev told the Russian news agency Interfax.

"Where will that lead all of us? A Cold War is already being waged openly. What's next?" asked the 83-year-old former president.

"Unfortunately I cannot say for sure that a Cold War won't lead to a 'hot' one. I fear they could take the risk," Gorbachev added, referring to the United States.

The last leader of the Soviet Union lamented that the only concern of the US and the European Union (EU), is imposing sanctions on Russia over the crisis in eastern Ukraine, wondering, "Have they completely lost their minds?"

Gorbachev added that the US and the EU are in a complicated situation because some European countries live well and others do not and dependence on the US is excessive, including that of Germany.