Russia says NATO deploying 'significant' hardware near its borders
MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused NATO
on Tuesday (Nov 30) of deploying a significant amount of military hardware near
Russia's borders and said Moscow could respond to security threats from Western
countries and Ukraine if necessary.
US, NATO and Ukrainian officials have raised the alarm in
recent weeks over what they say are unusual Russian troop movements near the
border with Ukraine, and have suggested that Moscow might be preparing to
launch an attack.
Moscow has denied any plans to do so.
Lavrov said Ukrainian military manoeuvres and use of drones
in the country's east, held by pro-Russian separatists, posed a threat to
Russia, and it was ready to respond if needed.
"We simply cannot rule out the possibility that Kyiv
will set out on a military adventure," he told a news conference in
Moscow.
"President Putin stressed that we do not need conflict
but if the West cannot hold back Ukraine - and on the contrary encourages it -
of course we will take all the necessary steps to ensure our security."
Responding to concerns about its troop build-up, Russia has
repeatedly said it is free to move its troops on its own territory and that
such movements should not be a cause for alarm.
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