Monday 15th November 2021
Location in Black Sea region
Putin has “no interest in escalation”
The US and EU are watching Russia’s troop movements on the border with eastern Ukraine with concern. Russian President Putin is peaceful in an interview. Despite NATO exercises in the Black Sea, they do not want the situation to escalate.
According to President Vladimir Putin, Russia has no interest in worsening the situation in the Black Sea region. That is why he rejected a proposal by his defense ministry to hold military exercises there in response to NATO activities, Putin said in an interview broadcast on Sunday with the broadcaster Rossiya-1.
“I should say that our Department of Defense had suggested holding its own exercises in these waters. But I think that would be pointless and there is no need to increase tension there.” Russia will limit itself to escorting NATO military aircraft and ships.
Putin also said that the USA and NATO were holding unplanned exercises in the Black Sea. “This is a serious challenge for us.” Russia had previously reported an increase in military activities by the US and US allies in the Black Sea region and criticized the procedure. Some of the activities take place near the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. The US said its ships were in the Black Sea to improve cooperation with NATO allies in the region.
On Friday, Russia rejected fears that it could attack Ukraine militarily. “Russia is not a threat to anyone,” said President’s Office spokesman Dmitri Peskov. According to European diplomats, the US had expressed concern. This was justified with Russian troop movements on the Ukrainian-Russian border.
Germany and France recently said that Russia would refuse a new ministerial meeting on the conflict. There are concerns among EU diplomats that the deadlock in political talks could lead to a military escalation. The head of the British Armed Forces said on Saturday that increasing tensions between the West and Russia could result in an unintended military conflict.