Fear Has Big Eyes

Despite Russia inviting NATO experts and foreign journalists to observe the planned Zapad-2017 drills with Belarus, the military bloc's member states claimed the exercises allegedly pose a "threat" to their security.

The Kremlin spokesman dismissed the allegations:

"We believe that the wave of hysteria around these exercises is absolutely provocative, as it is a common practice, it is the right of any country and the usual practice of carrying out such exercises. Everything is done in strict accordance with the international law and the relevant rules," Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.