Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the possible deployment of additional NATO units and US troops to the Baltics would escalate tensions in Europe.
Speaking at a briefing, Zakharova said the US administration advocated seeking diplomatic and political ways to reduce tensions in Europe. However, she said plans to deploy troops contradicted that position.
Zakharova argued that these steps were consistent with NATO’s plan to accelerate the militarization of the area along Russia’s western border. She claimed that this approach was based on the justification of a “threat from the East.”
Claim of military infrastructure in the Baltics
Zakharova said Russia viewed the deployment of additional NATO units and US troops to the Baltics, along with military infrastructure for them, as an open escalation of tensions.
Zakharova said Russia was not threatening anyone and noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the foreign minister had repeatedly stated that Moscow had no plans to enter into an armed conflict with Western Europe.
Zakharova said Russia would respond if an attack were launched by Western European countries or European Union member states, and urged people to reread Putin’s statement on the matter.
Accusation against Germany over Ukraine
Zakharova also claimed that Germany was involved in the conflict on Ukraine’s side. She argued that this assessment was supported by Germany’s own statements and its actions on the ground.
Zakharova described German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s latest visit to Kyiv as evidence of this stance. She claimed that figures such as Merz saw war as the only way to divert attention from domestic problems.
