OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Russian President Vladimir Putin is "obviously an imperialist" and hinted that Canada is considering expanding its military presence in Eastern Europe.

In an interview with Global News' The West Block during his tour of Europe for the G7 meeting and Second World War commemorations, Harper wouldn't say whether or not Canada will participate in permanent bases in countries such as Poland.

However, Harper said that the Poles and others are "beside themselves" at what he said was Putin's desire to annex countries by force.

"And so obviously we're dialoguing with the Poles and others about what we can do as NATO allies and provide reassurance on an ongoing basis," Harper said.

Harper said that while Putin's actions aren't "at Hitleresque proportions," he said the decision by Western countries to exclude Putin from the G7 meeting in Brussels was an important symbol.

"(G7 countries) agreed that "¦ the messages should be clear and only those messages should be delivered: Get out of occupied territory, stop fomenting violence and other provocative behaviour."

Russia accuses the U.S. and its allies of destabilizing Ukraine by encouraging the protests that helped forced the ouster of its former president, pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych.

Harper also touched on the recent European parliamentary elections, which saw an increase in support for ultra-nationalist parties.

Harper said he isn't worried because roughly 75% of the parliament is still made up of "mainstream parties."
"I think a lot of what you saw in the European election is not necessarily of a long-term worrying nature as much as it's a protest against some of the austerity programs."