NATO should expand presence on its eastern borders - Polish defense minister

Source : http://tass.ru/en

 
TASS - Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has urged NATO to consistently increase presence on its eastern fringe irrespective of Russia’s stance.

"Those who are responsible for the security of their countries should do their job irrespective of someone’s words or threats," the minister said adding that remarks of intention to target their systems at someone do not contribute to building reciprocal trust.

"I believe that these remarks are meant for internal public opinion but even though they are not creating good atmosphere," the Polish Press Agency quoted the defense minister as saying.

According to Siemoniak, it’s useless to enter into any discussions with Russia. "One day the messages are calm, the next day they are strong. I believe that a NATO adopted line of calm and consistent expansion of its presence and military capabilities in the east is more than rational," the Polish defense minister stressed.

In his speech at the opening of the Army 2015 International Military Technological Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that more than 40 new inter-continental ballistic missiles would be added to Russia’s nuclear arsenal this year. "They will be capable of penetrating any, even the most technologically advanced, anti-missile defense systems," the Russian president said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that Russia was not taking any actions, which could arouse Western security concerns. He explained that all steps which Russia had taken were retaliatory measures.

"The Russian president is giving fairly good arguments to set forth Russia’s stance on strategic security. The deterring effect of nuclear weapons can hardly be denied," Peskov said. Apart from his speech at the Army 2015 forum on Tuesday, President Putin gave a joint news conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto where he clearly explained that it was not Russia that was approaching anybody’s borders but NATO’s military infrastructure that was expanding closer to Russia’s borders.

Russia does not threaten Western countries, only takes response measures — Kremlin

Source : http://tass.ru/en

MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Russia undertakes no actions that can arise West’s security concerns, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Wednesday.

"It is not Russia that approaches somebody else’s borders, it is NATO’s military infrastructure that approaches Russian borders, and actions are taken directed at changing the strategic balance of forces," Peskov said.

"Of course, it arises Russia’s concern and, as the president explained, all this, of course, forces Russia to take measures for securing its interests, its security and also parity," the spokesman noted. "That is why the Russian president’s words suggest that there are no actions which could or should arise anyone’s concern," Peskov stressed.

The Kremlin spokesman thus commented on NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s statements about Putin’s alleged "nuclear rhetoric."

"The Russian president rather reasonably outlines Russia’s position in the sphere of strategic security, deterrent effect of nuclear weapons, it is not hardly likely that anyone will debate that," Peskov said.

He reminded that on Tuesday, Putin made a speech at the Army-2015 Forum and later said at a joint press conference with Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto that Russia is not approaching anyone’s borders, while NATO military infrastructure is moving closer to Russian borders.