MOSCOW, November 9. /TASS/. Europe is so preoccupied with preparing for a hypothetical "Russian aggression" that it is conducting offensive military exercises and making various statements regarding Russia’s Kaliningrad, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergey Shoigu said.

"As for Europe’s militarization, NATO’s military budget has nearly doubled - from 500 billion to a trillion [of US dollars]," he told reporters. "All of this is happening under the banner of the 'threat from Russia.' Everyone is preparing for a 'Russian aggression' and 'repelling a Russian attack.' Their military drills, however, are not so much defensive as they are offensive in nature. Various statements are being made regarding Kaliningrad."

"Are we moving our forces West-wards? Or was it NATO that carried out five waves of eastward expansion?" he argued. "Did we withdraw from the agreement on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles? No. Are we building fences along our border? No."