(Dan Tri) – A senior Russian security official accused NATO of fighting Moscow in Ukraine.
Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev (Photo: Tass).
Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev accused NATO of essentially fighting Moscow in Ukraine.
According to Russian and American diplomats, Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine has caused the worst crisis in relations between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.
Mr. Patrushev said that the 75 years since NATO’s founding have shown that this organization is a long-term source of `danger, crisis and conflict`.
The Russian official emphasized: `The North Atlantic Alliance is in fact a party to the conflict in Ukraine and actively participates in organizing shelling of Russian territories.`
`Within the framework of NATO, collective decisions are being made on the provision of higher-tech and longer-range weapons, and NATO instructors in a number of countries are training mercenaries and
Ukraine has increased its attacks deep into Russian territory over the past year, attacking oil refineries and weapons factories with drones and repeatedly shelling Russia’s border areas.
The US has repeatedly stated that it does not support Ukraine’s attacks on Russian territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last month warned the West that a direct conflict between Russia and NATO would mean the world is one step away from World War 3. He said that some Russian military personnel
Mr. Patrushev accused NATO of being a US tool to eliminate Russia and gain its huge natural resources.
He said: `The West sees the collapse of the Soviet Union as just one of the stages of the confrontation with Russia. The long-term strategic goal of Washington, London and Western countries is the weakening of Russia
NATO, established with 12 core members in 1949 to ensure security for the West against the Soviet Union.
NATO accepted the former Warsaw Pact countries Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland as members in 1999, and the organization has accepted the Eastern European countries Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Finland joins NATO in 2023 and Sweden in 2024.
The US and its allies deny accusations they want to eliminate Russia, even though they see Russia as their main rival.
Mr. Patrushev accused NATO of `systematically increasing its military potential along our borders from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea` and holding exercises near Russian territory.