Answering the question about the movements of the Russian Armed Forces, the head of state recalled that, firstly, "Ukraine itself constantly dragged both personnel and military equipment to the conflict area in southeastern Ukraine, to the Donbass.
“Second: we conducted planned exercises on our territory and not only in the south of the Russian Federation, but also in the Far East, and in the north, in the Arctic, conducted exercises.
At the same time, exercises were conducted in several regions of the Russian Federation.
At the same time, the United States was conducting exercises in Alaska, just for a minute.
Do you know anything about this?
Not?
Probably not.
I'll tell you, I know.
This is also in the immediate vicinity of our borders, but this is on your territory.
We didn’t even pay attention to that, ”Putin said in an exclusive interview with NBC.
His words are quoted by the press service of the Kremlin.
He recalled that Defender Europe exercises are currently taking place on the southern borders of Russia.
“40 thousand personnel, 15 thousand units of military equipment, some of them have been deployed from the American continent directly to our borders.
Have we transferred our equipment to the American borders?
Not.
What are you worried about? "
- said the President of Russia.
In April, interspecific exercises of the Armed Forces were held at the Crimean Opuk training ground.
More than 10 thousand servicemen, 1.2 thousand units of equipment took part in them, more than 40 warships and 20 support vessels were involved.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived for the maneuvers.
He flew around the troop deployment area by helicopter and heard a report from the commander of the Southern Military District, Army General Alexander Dvornikov.