Moscow-Sana
Russia has warned that NATO's military exercises on its eastern border are very similar to preparations for a large-scale military conflict.
"The NATO countries are continuously strengthening their military presence near our borders and are working to improve the operational efficiency related to the redeployment of forces on the eastern side," TASS news agency quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement on its website.
"The intensity of the maneuvers, whose scenarios are increasingly reminiscent of preparations for a large-scale military conflict, is increasing, and the systematic development of the European section of the missile defense system of NATO and the United States is continuing," the ministry added.
Last December, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko announced that his country was not satisfied with NATO's maneuvers to be carried out in Eastern Europe this spring, stressing that it was not related to strengthening security but rather establishing dividing lines.
On the assassination of Lieutenant-General Qassem Soleimani, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in its statement: "We consider this American operation against Lieutenant-General Soleimani as a deliberate act aimed at undermining the security and stability of the region and was carried out on the territory of a sovereign state that is a member of the United Nations without its knowledge."