Russian President Vladimir Putin says the world shouldn't fear Moscow because it doesn't want to play any "geopolitical games."

"We pose no threat to anyone and do not intend to get involved in any geopolitical games or intrigues, let alone conflicts, no matter who tries to draw us into them or how they do so," Putin told his military chiefs on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

Also Wednesday, NATO's top commander said Russian troops were operating in eastern Ukraine, and he warned that Moscow could use its annexation of Crimea to control "almost the entire Black Sea."