NATO Exercises Provoke Russia

NATO exercises provoke Russia, that was the main idea that Chief of MOD GS Sergey Rudskoi addressed on Monday. He described these exercise activities near Russian border as having "a clear anti-Russian Orientation"

Russia perceived the drills planned for the eve of 9 May as aggressive. Furthermore, but Russia's General Staff viewed them as an "attempt to violate the Vienna document by splitting a large exercise into smaller ones and involving neutral states in maneuvers."

Rudskoi added that the activity of US air and naval forces and their allies near Russian borders has increased sharply. Moreover, Rudskoi noted that NATO's activities are becoming more active in the Arctic.

"For the first time since the end of the Cold War -on the eve of celebrating the 75th anniversary of Victory over Nazi Germany- a task force warships of NATO's joint naval forces held drills in the Barents Sea."

Apparently, those exercises involved practicing striking targets on Russian territory and intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. Although the US side notified Russia about entry of these ships in the Barents Sea, this action remained "provocative."

Due to the "active actions of the Northern fleet, the deployment of NATO ships was detected in a timely manner, and their direct support and tracking of weapons was organised."

He continued, "this made it possible to avoid incidents and demonstrated the determination of the Russian Federation to protect its interests in the Arctic."

Russia noted NATO military activity near the Russian borders against the background of the potential American withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty.

"Defender of Europe 2020" series of exercises were the main to alarm Russia.

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