Russia blames US and NATO for causing threats to global peace
(VOVworld) - Top Russian officials accused the United States on Thursday of seeking political and military dominance and sought to put blame on the West for various international security crises, including the conflict in east Ukraine.
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| A woman walks past a building damaged by fighting in Donetsk, April 15, 2015 (Photo: Reuters) |
At the 4th Moscow International Security Conference on Thursday, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu accused the US and NATO of violating the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) by involving its allies in military exercises using US weapons. Meanwhile, NATO had extended its presence in Eastern Europe near Russia’s border.
According to General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, the potential threat from the US and NATO have prompted Russia to corresponding acts. Valery Gerasimov said Russia’s nuclear force has been fully equipped and Russia will continue to build military bases to assure security in neighboring areas such as Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.
NATO's Spokesperson Oana Lungescu said NATO has never deployed nuclear weapons in Eastern Europe and its military operations were subject to the NPT. Oana Lungescu said NATO’s national missile defense system placed in Romania and Poland aims to protect its allies from ballistic missile threats.