In the beginning of June, the international naval exercise BALTOPS kicked off in the Baltic Sea and will continue until June 19. BALTOPS is an annual military exercise, held and sponsored by US Naval Forces Europe in the Baltic Sea and the surrounding regions since 1971.
"Our defense ministry and the relevant services, are properly monitoring changes in the deployment of foreign forces near our borders. They are analyzing all these movements and, of course, taking necessary measures to fulfill their obligations, namely protecting Russia's interests and ensuring its security," Peskov told reporters.
NATO has been reinforcing its military presence in Europe, particularly in the Eastern European states, since the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, citing Russia's alleged interference in the conflict as a justification for the move. Moscow has repeatedly denied the accusations, calling NATO's military buildup near Russia’s borders provocative.
