The Defense Ministry does not advise anyone to talk to Russia from a position of strength
The Russian Defense Ministry reminded foreign colleagues that actions from a "position of strength" will not remain without a response from Moscow. Thus, the ministry responded to the statement of the head of the German Defense Ministry that Russia should be forced to disarm. According to the German politician, the country spends a lot of money on the modernization of its weapons, which indicates a supposedly more obvious threat.
Moscow does not advise foreign politicians to conduct a dialogue with Russia from a position of strength, as German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer previously called for, speaking in the Bundestag.
"Along with the fact that the threat of force is a direct violation of the UN Charter, such actions will not remain without a proper response from our side, "Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel - General Alexander Fomin warned in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
"We are ready for a professional constructive dialogue with respect for the principles of mutual respect and consideration of each other's interests," he said.
Fomin stressed that the increased activity of the NATO armed forces can lead to serious incidents. "In 2020, the activity of the air and naval forces of the alliance has significantly increased, and situations that can lead to serious incidents are increasingly emerging," he said.
The Russian military recalled that before the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, military exercises of NATO warships were held in the Barents Sea. A few months later, more than 15 times near the Russian borders flew American strategic bombers B-52N and B-1B, stated Fomin.
He drew attention to other NATO actions. So, in October of this year, the British Navy destroyer Dragon passed through the territorial waters of Russia in the area of Cape Chersonesos, and at the end of the year, the American destroyer John McCain entered Peter the Great Bay.
"These actions were openly provocative. Incidents were avoided only due to the high level of professional training of Russian pilots and sailors," the Deputy Minister stressed.
At the same time, Fomin noted that the United States and its NATO allies are conducting "aggressive rhetoric" towards Russia. According to him, the West ignores Moscow's initiatives on the mutual withdrawal of the exercise areas from the Russia - NATO contact line.
Thus, the deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry commented on the statement of German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. In November of this year, she said that Russia is investing heavily in modernizing its weapons. According to her, in this way, " the threat has become much more obvious." So she answered the question about the feasibility of building up NATO's military forces.
"If we are to enter into negotiations on disarmament from a position of strength, then we must strengthen our position. This has always been a good traditional position of German foreign policy and should remain so in the future, " the minister added.
"In this case, it repeated to a certain extent the hackneyed stamp that is repeated in many NATO countries. I honestly wouldn't think much of it. There is no need to inflate anything here, " Putin said.
The Russian leader suggested that perhaps Kramp-Karrenbauer herself is not happy with her words, "just like many responsible politicians in the Federal Republic itself."
According to the head of state, the statement of the head of the German Defense Ministry is counterproductive for interstate relations between the two countries. "From the point of view of defense policy, it makes no sense, because ... because. We need to see what the Russian army is today, " Putin concluded.
"Here it's more like, you know, a speech by a junior high student attacking students from a completely different school. And a student whose mother or father is the headmaster. She can afford everything. Guys, so we are in a different school, we have a different director, " the Russian minister reminded.
Angelina Milchenko
