3/25/2022 4:58 PM (act. 3/25/2022 4:58 PM)
Russian President Vladimir Putin with his Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu. © AP Photo / Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)
In response to NATO’s actions in front of its borders, Russia wants to militarily strengthen its western flank.
A powerful group has formed on NATO’s eastern flank, “a powerful military infrastructure, NATO’s defense structure,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, according to Interfax.
Russia wants to strengthen the western flank because of NATO’s actions
According to Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin has already called on Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu to take steps to improve the line of defense – even ahead of NATO’s recent announcements that it will strengthen its presence in the east.
According to Peskov, Shoygu should present Putin with strengthening proposals
According to Pieskov, Shoigu should present Putin with specific proposals. “We did not go towards NATO, but NATO went towards us and thus created a threat to us that worries us,” said Peskov, looking back over the past few years – even before the start of the Russian war against Ukraine on February 24.
Russian attack on Ukraine: defense plans activated by NATO
In response to the Russian aggression in Ukraine, NATO launched its defense plans by transferring elements of the NATO Response Force and placing 40,000 troops and air and naval capabilities on the eastern flank under direct NATO command. Four additional MNGs in Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary are currently being established in the short term.