MOSCOW (Sputnik) — NATO has been increasing its military presence in Eastern Europe and the Black Sea since the outbreak of the conflict in southeastern Ukraine in April 2014, in response to what it considers Russia's aggressive foreign policy.
"On the so-called NATO eastern flank, a constant rotation of US and allied military contingents is taking place, drills are being held daily, new military infrastructure is being built. Overall, these steps contradict the spirit of the Russia-NATO Founding Act <…> US and allied actions in the area of missile defense and the creation of a global missile defense system continue to be a significant destructive factor posing risks to strategic stability," Lavrov said at the Moscow Conference on International Security.
Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the Ukraine-related accusations leveled at it, warning that increased NATO activities near the country's borders could undermine regional and global stability.
