MOSCOW, Dec 9 - RIA Novosti. NATO has increased military activity in the immediate vicinity of the Russian borders in recent years, the US strategic aviation is training cruise missile launches at facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation, said Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, noting that the Russian Defense Ministry confirms its readiness to discuss security issues to de-escalate tensions and increase mutual trust.
"The tension of the situation in Europe is not decreasing. In recent years, the military activity of the North Atlantic Alliance has increased significantly. About 40 major NATO military exercises are held annually in the immediate vicinity of the Russian borders," Gerasimov said at a briefing to military attaches of foreign states on Thursday.
He noted that during the NATO exercises, in which non-aligned countries are also involved, a large number of troops are relocated to the borders of the Russian Federation, while part of the military equipment remains in the places of maneuvers.
"This year, a large-scale exercise "Defender of Europe" was held, which involved not only the countries of the alliance, but also non-aligned states - Sweden, Finland, Austria. During them, significant contingents of troops were relocated to the Russian borders. The exercises have been completed, but some of the equipment of the United States has not yet been withdrawn from Europe," the military commander stressed.
According to his assessment, "the American strategic aviation has significantly increased overflights of the Russian borders, during which it carries out training launches of cruise missiles at objects on the territory of the Russian Federation."
"There is a surge in the naval activity of NATO forces in the Black and Baltic Seas. This year, 26 warships of the non-Black Sea states of the alliance - Great Britain, Greece, Spain, Italy and the United States made 29 visits to the Black Sea. Last year there were 23 such visits. At the same time, the actions of NATO ships are often provocative," the Chief of the General Staff noted.
The Russian military, he noted, closely monitors all movements, "and any attempts to violate the border, of course, will be stopped."
At the same time, Gerasimov noted that the initiatives of the Russian Federation "on the withdrawal of areas of exercises from the Russia-NATO contact line, as well as aimed at increasing the predictability of actions and reducing dangerous military activities, remain relevant."
"The Russian Defense Ministry confirms its readiness to discuss European and global security issues in order to create the necessary conditions for developing concrete measures to de-escalate tensions and increase the level of mutual trust," the Chief of the General Staff said.
