The senior official, who heads the Russian delegation to the Vienna talks on military security and arms control, told Rossiya 24 television channel that the exercises are not aimed at defending the alliance.

“These NATO maneuvers have gathered 90,000 soldiers, officers and equipment.”

The transfer of equipment goes in the eastern direction, that is, it mimics the so-called defense of the Suwalki corridor.

We describe it as a completely obvious provocation against the Russian Federation,’ the diplomat assured.

Gavrilov recalled that Moscow also considers as a NATO provocation the declaration of Germany, the Netherlands and Poland’s intentions to create a military corridor.

They want to make a much faster transfer of forces and equipment actually to Poland and the Baltic countries.

How should we consider this, is it a defense? In my opinion, it is not a defense.

Russia has repeatedly stated at the highest level that we have no intention to attack or provoke NATO.

Apparently, they are going exactly for this provocation,’ the diplomat pointed out.

NATO’s Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises will take place between February and May in Europe with the participation of 31 countries of the alliance and Sweden.

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