Russia accuses NATO of “exacerbating” tension by deploying warships and warplanes in Eastern Europe

The Kremlin on Monday accused NATO and the United States of “exacerbating” tensions by deciding to deploy warships and warplanes in Eastern Europe, amid fears of a Russian attack on Ukraine.

“Tensions have been exacerbated by very concrete announcements and actions by the United States and NATO”Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, referring to the deployment of Alliance forces in eastern Europe.

The official denounced the “hysteria” in Europe by the accusations that have multiplied in recent weeks of an imminent Russian invasion.

Peskov considered “very high” the risk of a Kiev offensive against pro-Russian separatists in eastern Turkey. Ukraine, where the conflict that began in 2014 has caused more than 13,000 deaths.

“The Ukrainian authorities concentrate a considerable number of forces and means on the border” of the territories that he described as “republics” and warned that this situation “suggests the preparation of offensive actions.”

“All this leads to a situation where tensions rise”, indicated the high official who pointed out that the existence of an “aggressive climate” in Europe is a “reality”.

Russia it is accused by Westerners of posting a contingent of tens of thousands of soldiers on the border with Ukraine, ready to launch an invasion.

Moscow denies these accusations and demands various security guarantees including a veto of Ukraine’s entry into NATO, a promise that the alliance will not continue to expand eastward and an end to military deployments in Eastern Europe.

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