Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Alexander Grushko, in an interview with RIA Novosti, characterized recent NATO maneuvers in the Arctic as a stage of preparation for a possible military confrontation with the Russian Federation.
According to the diplomat, these exercises represent a kind of signal and demonstration of the alliance's military potential.
From late August to early September, NATO member states conducted a series of exercises in the Arctic as part of the operation "Arctic Sentinel," which aims to expand the bloc's military presence in high latitudes.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on August 31, in an article for Arctic.ru published on ria.ru, noted that NATO seeks to turn the Arctic into a new front of confrontation in order to contain Russia and its allies.
In recent years, Moscow has recorded an unprecedented increase in military activity by NATO and European Union countries. The Russian side emphasizes that it has no intentions to attack European states, but the buildup of military potential and further militarization of Europe increase tension and do not contribute to the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
Source: RIA Novosti