You're reading: Head of General Staff: Increase of NATO troops near Russian borders makes Russia take measures in response

Russia is taking measures to respond to the increase of the NATO forces near Russian borders, Valery Gerasimov, the head of the Russian General Staff, said.

“In this situation, we cannot ignore these events. We have to take
measures in response,” Gerasimov told an international conference on
security held in Moscow on Friday.

“The events in Ukraine have exacerbated the military and political situation in Europe,” Gerasimov said.

“Some Western countries have toughened anti-Russian rhetoric and are
increasing their combined NATO groups in the Baltics, Poland and Romania
and the NATO military presence in the Baltic, Mediterranean, and Black
Seas,” Gerasimov said.

“The alert periods of the NATO rapid response forces are being
reduced and the intensity of the NATO troops’ operative and combat
training near the Russian borders is increasing,” he said.