Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Paris | EPA/Etienne Laurent Vladimir Putin: Don’t invent ‘imaginary Russian threats’ ‘You rely on imaginary data,’ says Russian president.

Western countries should not "invent imaginary threats" coming from Russia, President Vladimir Putin said during his visit to France.

Putin was asked by French newspaper Le Figaro — in an interview given on Monday night and released Tuesday — about concerns voice by NATO countries, and dismissed “hybrid wars” and “imaginary threats from Russia."

"You frighten yourself," Putin said. "You rely on imaginary data."

The Russian president said the number one problem countries face is terrorism and the only way to fight it is through cooperation, adding that Russia is an unavoidable ally to restore global security.

Russia has been accused of meddling in election campaigns, including by French President Emmanuel Macron. After Macron and Putin held talks on Monday, the new French leader attacked Kremlin-funded RT and Sputnik for being “agents of influence” spreading falsehoods as part of a propaganda campaign.