MOSCOW, April 4. /TASS/. NATO increases its combat posture and intensifies activities near the state borders of Russia and Belarus, creating risks of further expanding the conflict in Ukraine, Defense Minister Army General Sergey Shoigu said on Tuesday.
"NATO has resorted to a set of measures aimed at improving the allied forces’ combat readiness and stepped up combat and reconnaissance activities near the state borders of Russia and Belarus," Shoigu said, adding that "Finland will soon be granted the alliance’s membership."
The minister stressed that such developments were likely to yield risks of a significant expansion of the conflict; however they would have no effect whatsoever on the outcome of the Russian special operation in Ukraine.
The minister stated that NATO member states keep bolstering the anti-Russian course, which leads to the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine with the United States and its allies ramping up their military aid to Ukraine.
"It has been stated that this year alone they are ready to deliver over 200 Western-manufactured tanks and over 400 modern armored combat vehicles," Shoigu continued.
"The Ukrainian army is receiving long-range weapons, including rockets with a striking range of up to 150 kilometers [over 93 miles]," the minister noted.
Shoigu also said that the West considered "supplying the Kiev regime with ATACMS [Army Tactical Missile System] missiles with a strike range of up to 300 kilometers [over 186 miles], as well as F-16 tactical fighters.".