“Tension is growing”: how Russia appreciated NATO’s decision to send additional forces to Eastern Europe

NATO's decision to expand its military presence in Eastern Europe against the background of the situation around Ukraine increases tension in the region.

This was stated by the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov.

“As for specific actions, we see with you the statements that the North Atlantic Alliance publishes about increasing the contingent and concentrating forces and assets on the eastern flank.

All this leads to the fact that tensions are growing, ”Peskov said.

He drew attention to the fact that the escalation is due to the actions of NATO and the United States, as well as the information they disseminate.

“Unfortunately, we live in an aggressive environment.

We see reprints and references to the Anglo-Saxon media, we read absolutely unfriendly statements by representatives of NATO countries addressed to us.

This is the reality in which we exist,” he said.

Answering the question whether the launch of a detachment of ships of the Baltic Fleet on a long voyage is a response to the transfer of NATO forces to the east of Europe, the official representative of the Kremlin suggested contacting the Russian Ministry of Defense.

“Such NATO actions and increased NATO activity near our borders cannot be ignored by our military, which is responsible for the security of our country.

Still, there is a constant process of exercises, maneuvers, military building, which has never stopped and will continue to continue, ”added Peskov.

• © AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

On January 24, the NATO press service published a statement from which it follows that the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance are putting their forces on alert, sending additional ships and fighters for deployment in Eastern Europe, since Russia allegedly "continues to build up its military presence on the territory of Ukraine and next to it" .

So, two F-35 fighters of the Netherlands Air Force are sent to Bulgaria, the possibility of sending fighters to this country is also considered by Spain, which also sent its ships to the region.

France announced its readiness to send troops to Romania.

Four Danish F-16 fighter jets are planned to be deployed in Lithuania.

In addition, the US is considering increasing its military presence on NATO's eastern flank.

“I welcome (efforts. -

) allies providing NATO with additional forces.

NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to protect all allies, including by strengthening the eastern part of the alliance.

We will always respond to any deterioration in our security environment, in particular by strengthening our collective defense,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"Outrageous Decisions"

According to Adalbi Shkhagoshev, a member of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, in this way NATO countries are pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to implement “nationalist plans” for a military offensive against Donbass.

At the same time, in his opinion, the Western countries “do not have the courage” to directly intervene in the situation, since their main goal is to “push” Kiev.

"NATO's actions are in the classic version called" forcing the situation, "the interlocutor of RT emphasized.

NATO is pursuing a "short-sighted" and "very wrong policy," said Sergey Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“These are outrageous actions, outrageous decisions.

In the context of the dialogue that is going on now, they are taking some steps that do not contribute to detente, do not contribute to peace and harmony, ”he said in an interview with RT.

Western countries, led by the United States, "made a hysteria" in connection with the situation in Ukraine, adds political scientist Yuri Svetov in an interview with RT.

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“Oil is poured into the fire diligently, both by the Americans and by NATO as a whole.

If nothing happens in Ukraine, then we can say that the threat of sanctions, help with weapons, instructors worked,” he said.

The US and NATO are using the situation around Ukraine in order to pump up the country with weapons.

This opinion was expressed by Alexei Pushkov, a member of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building. 

“Demanding Russia to de-escalate around Ukraine, NATO countries have embarked on the largest escalation of Ukraine’s military training in history,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.