Sergei Shoigu: We intend to continue doing everything necessary to ensure our border security

According to the press service of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, in his speech at a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Defence of the CSTO Member States, Army General Sergei Shoigu, Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, said that the United States’ and NATO’s actions in the European region increase the military threat and nationalist sentiments in Ukraine and provoke an armed conflict in Donbas.
“The military threat grows because of the United States’ and NATO’s actions to increase the combat readiness of troops and strengthen the forward presence in the European region. The military infrastructure is being modernized, the intensity of operational and combat training is increasing and the American concept of ‘four by thirty’ is being implemented. Nationalist sentiments in Ukraine are being fomented, provoking an armed conflict in Donbas, including in the areas bordering Russia,” the Russian Minister of Defence said.
Mr Shoigu recalled that “we have taken appropriate measures in response to NATO’s threatening military activity. As you know, there was a surprise inspection of the combat readiness of the troops of the Western and Southern Military Districts. Two armies and three units of airborne forces were successfully redeployed to the western borders, to the areas where they were to carry out training and combat missions,” recalled the head of the Russian military.
Sergei Shoigu emphasized that Russia moves its troops within its territory according to its own plans without any external influence.
“Lately, everyone and their uncle were unanimously accusing Russia using any opportunity to do so. Some dislike the conduct of exercises on our territory, others are annoyed by the return of troops to permanent bases. And some decided to warn us about the consequences of our activity on our own territory,” said the Russian Minister of Defence. “I shall emphasize: we do not tolerate such warnings and will continue doing everything necessary to secure our borders.”
Mr Shoigu also said that Russia is closely monitoring the deployment and redeployment of NATO forces in Europe as part of the Defender Europe exercise.