Deputy Foreign Minister Grushko said that NATO can calm down on the topic of Russian troops near the borders of Ukraine
Alexander Grushko. Photo: Press Service of the Russian Foreign Ministry / RIA Novosti
The North Atlantic Alliance can calm down about the buildup of Russian troops near the borders of Ukraine, since they are already being withdrawn to their places of permanent deployment. This call was made by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Grushko, Kommersant reports.
“Why did NATO suddenly become concerned about the mythical “build-up of Russian forces” in Belarus? The exercises are over, you can calm down. The units are scheduled to return to their places of permanent deployment,” the diplomat said. He noted that NATO should not worry about its eastern flank, unlike the southern one, where “you have to deal with the consequences of your own interventions.”
Earlier, Grushko said that Russia's response to NATO's proposals on security guarantees is not yet ready, but work is underway.
On February 17, the US leadership announced that Russia had increased its military presence on the border with Ukraine by 7,000 people. A Washington administration official commented on Russia's reports about the withdrawal of its troops from the Ukrainian borders. In his opinion, Russia allegedly increased its military presence along the border with Ukraine.
