US, NATO increasing military presence near Russia's borders with unprecedented force - Defence Minister
29 April 2014, 01:39 -- Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, in his recent phone talk with his US counterpart Chuck Hagel, said that the US and NATO are increasing its military presence near Russia's borders in Eastern Europe with unprecedented force, RIA Novosti reports.
The press service of Russia's Defense Ministry also reports that Mr. Shoygu noted that these steps of the West are accompanied with statements of NATO's Secretary General that Russia should be "restrained". Besides, quite a few Western media sources have unveiled a real anti-Russian hysteria, Mr. Shoygu added.
The Russian Defense Minister tried to draw the attention of his American counterpart to these facts and noted that spreading anti-Russian sentiments can hardly lead to easing of tension in the world.
In a phone talk between Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Mr. Hagel assured his Russian counterpart that NATO's actions in Eastern Europe have no provocative or expansionist character.
The increase of NATO's military presence in Eastern Europe is motivated by NATO's and the EU's deep concern about the situation in Ukraine and the wish of NATO's Eastern European members to secure themselves in connection with this situation, Chuck Hagel said. The aim of these actions is to confirm the unity of NATO's members and to strengthen the defensive might of Eastern European countries, he added.
Shoygu denies reports about Russian agents destabilizing situation in Ukraine
In his recent phone talk with US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu categorically denied that Russia has sent its agents to Ukraine for certain "subversive actions".
After Mr. Hagel expressed concern that Russia is dislocating more military forces near Ukraine's border and that Russia's plans to hold military maneuvers near this border are allegedly aimed at destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, Mr. Shoygu called on him not to listen to this groundless rhetoric and try to prevent the spreading of such rumors.
Rumors that certain groups of Russian agents in Ukraine's southeastern regions are trying to destabilize the situation there are also groundless, Sergey Shoygu says.
Earlier, several media sources reported that the US Defense Secretary was trying to communicate with his Russian counterpart to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry, in its turn, said that it was ready to discuss the situation in Ukraine with the Pentagon, but has not yet received any official notification from it.
Besides, earlier, Defense Minister Shoygu has announced that Russia was starting military maneuvers near Ukraine's border as a reaction on the aggravation of the situation in Ukraine. In response, Defense Secretary Hagel expressed his concern in connection with these Russia's plans.
Russia's Defense Minister confirms readiness for dialogue over Ukraine
Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu has had a phone talk with his American counterpart Chuck Hagel, RIA Novosti reports quoting the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry.
During this talk, Mr. Shoygu confirmed Russia's readiness for a constructive dialogue with any country or organization that is interested in peace in Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Minister says that Russia stands for looking for a compromise decision of the Ukrainian issue, but this compromise should be based on the decisions reached in Geneva on April 17.
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