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NATO Likely Boosting Presence Near Russia to Avoid Future Arms Reduction

© AP Photo / Rahmat GulNATO Soldiers walk under country member flags at a NATO base at Kabul International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan
NATO Soldiers walk under country member flags at a NATO base at Kabul International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan - Sputnik International
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NATO could use the Ukrainian conflict as a threshold that would allow NATO countries not to reduce their military capabilities.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a press conference after the thirteenth meeting of the Foreign Ministers of China, Russia and India, in Beijing - Sputnik International
NATO Buildup Near Russian Borders Undermines Security - Lavrov
MOSCOW, (Sputnik) — NATO could be using the Ukrainian conflict as a pretext to avoid reducing its military capabilities when dialogue with Russia resumes, a source familiar with the situation told RIA Novosti on Sunday.

“The first element is to increase the threat potential. The second, given the fact that nearly all negotiation mechanisms on arms reduction in Europe are frozen, is to create a threshold that would allow NATO countries not to reduce their military capabilities, but rather negotiate with Russia on going back to the ‘starting point’ from which they initially intended to start negotiations,” the source said.

According to the source, it is “unlikely that any sensible experts imagine that Russia intends to attack eastern European countries.”

Soldiers from the British Royal Marines Commando demonstrate city fighting techniques during the NATO Response Force exercise - Sputnik International
Stoltenberg Says NATO Against Confrontation With Russia
Following the reunification of Crimea with Russia in March last year, NATO began boosting its military presence along its eastern borders and suspended all practical cooperation with Russia, limiting contact to ambassadorial and higher levels.

After Kiev launched a military offensive against independence supporters in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region in April, NATO has been accusing Russia of providing Donbas militia with military assistance. Russia has firmly denied the claims.

Earlier in the week, NATO announced that its Rapid Response Force would be increased from 13,000 to 30,000 people, and six new command posts would be created in NATO states neighboring Russia.

Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern over NATO’s military buildup in Eastern Europe.

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