MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu to present a special report concerning measures to reinforce the country’s Western borders in connection with NATO actions.
"As far as the strengthening of Russia’s western borders is concerned in connection with the actions NATO countries have been taking in this direction - in response to what they have been doing - this requires special consideration," Putin said at a meeting with permanent members of the Security Council.
"I am asking you to present a special report. We will make a corresponding decision on the basis of its discussion in the near future," Putin told Shoigu.
The defense minister told the Security Council that the General Staff was "working on a plan - in fact, it is about to be finalized - for reinforcing our western borders. It includes the newest advanced weapon systems and the redeployment of combat units to protect our western borders."
In that connectionm he asked for the president’s instruction to report his proposals for approval at the next meeting of the Security Council or in some other format.
Shoigu stressed that the General Staff had analyzed all measures the West was taking to build up its forces near Russia’s western borders.
"Ever more units are arriving and being deployed every day, although in the current situation there is no threat to them," Shoigu said. "The way we see it, they wish to take advantage of the situation to build up their forces on the other side of the border to the maximum extent and to perpetuate this presence," Shoigu concluded.