- US Navy claims Russian warship to be blamed for incident in Mediterranean
- US destroyer came dangerously close to Russian warship in Mediterranean — defense ministry
- USS Donald Cook was about 70 km from Russian Navy base when warplanes passed it
- Lavrov: There are no threats in Baltic region that would justify its militarization
- Russian NATO envoy says Black Sea will never be "NATO’s lake"
- Diplomat sees no signs NATO will reckon with Russia’s legitimate security interests
MOSCOW, June 30. /TASS/. NATO’s actions are aimed at undermining parity, but Russia will not yield to warmongering, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a conference of ambassadors and permanent representatives on Thursday.
"NATO’s anti-Russian thrust is being deliberately emphasized these days. In Russia’s behavior the alliance looks for a confirmation of legitimacy and feasibility of its existence, but at the same time it takes real confrontational steps towards us," he said.
Putin recalled the sharp growth in the number of military exercises, including those in the Black and Baltic seas.
"We are being accused of carrying out some military activity. Where? In our own territory," Putin said. "In the meantime the ongoing events near our borders are regarded as something normal."
"All this is aimed at undermining military parity that took decades to establish," Putin said.