The likelihood of unintended incidents is increasing because of the growth of the European Union countries' military potential near Russian borders. Vladislav Maslennikov, who heads the European problems department of the Foreign Ministry, told RIA Novosti this.
"The Europeans' buildup of their military potential on our borders increases the likelihood of unintended incidents and increases escalatory uncertainty," the agency quotes him as saying.
The diplomat also noted that in the West the public consciousness is now being intensively instilled with the thesis that it is necessary to prepare for a possible armed confrontation with Russia within the next few years.
At the end of September in Brussels, at a meeting of the heads of the foreign and defense ministries of the European Union states, several common defense projects were approved. Among them are an initiative on drones, the formation of a defense system at sea, space reconnaissance, the creation of a missile defense system independent of the United States, and also the strengthening of borders.
President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly pointed out that Moscow does not intend to start a conflict with Western countries. At the same time, politicians in these states regularly scare the population with an imaginary Russian threat in order to divert attention from internal problems.