Moscow aware of NATO deploying weapons near Russian borders, diplomat says

Moscow is aware of the ongoing process of the deployment of armaments by NATO countries near Russia’s borders, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Alexander Grushko said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV Channel on Friday.

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NATO has decided to expel eight Russian diplomats from Brussels “so that no one impedes the process of demonizing Russia,” Grushko pointed out.

Moreover, the military bloc views the Russian mission in Brussels as “some sort of a thorn in its side,” the senior diplomat added. “All this complicates the situation and the process of assessing each other’s intentions,” Grushko noted.

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As NATO is consistently building up its military potential near Russia’s borders, “new military realities are emerging on the ground that are being created on the basis of Cold War schemes, which NATO officials have shaken the dust off of,” Grushko added.

“This refers not only to the ramped-up military activity and the larger number of drills with the involvement of a strategic component, but also the establishment of infrastructure, aerodromes and depots, and deploying equipment for reinforcements and port infrastructure,” the high-ranking diplomat specified.