Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an inter-view aired Saturday that Moscow considered recent Black Sea exercises by US and other NATO ships as a serious challenge.
“The United States and its allies in NATO are carry-ing out unplanned exercises in the Black Sea. Not only is a rather powerful naval group involved in these exercises, but also aviation, including strategic aviation. This is a serious challenge for us,” he said in an interview with state broadcaster.
His comments came after Washington this week raised alarms over Russian military activities close to Ukraine’s border.
US top diplomat Antony Blinken on Wednesday warned Russia against making another “serious mistake” on Ukraine as Washington sought clarity about troop movements near the border.—Agencies
