Putin warns of unplanned NATO exercises in the Black Sea

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Saturday, Russian President, Vladimir Putin warned of the dangers of unplanned NATO military exercises in the Black Sea.

The United States and its allies in NATO are carrying out unplanned exercises in the Black Sea, Russian media reported Putin today.

“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,” Putin said.  

Putin noted that the Russian Defense Ministry proposed holding unplanned exercises in the same region, adding: “but I think this is inappropriate and there is no need to further escalate the situation.”

Putin denied allegations recently published by Western media that Russia intends to “militarily invade Ukraine.”

Last week, a group of Russian warships entered the waters of the Mediterranean, according to what observers in the Turkish city of Istanbul via social networks said.

The observers published pictures of the minesweeper “Naval Brigade Zakharin” and the “B-191 Cadet” anti-sabotage boat, and the marine tugboat “MP-304” crossing the Bosporus heading to the Mediterranean.

“US and NATO guided missile ships that enter the Black Sea are attempting to test the strength of Russia’s Black Sea coast and southern border protection,” Russian Minister of Defense, Army General Sergei Shoigu, said on Sunday.

“We understand that any provocations are possible at any time as was the case recently with a British destroyer and, of course, we must prevent such things,” Shoigu stressed.

Two weeks ago, the US Sixth Fleet announced, through a statement posted on its Twitter account, that “the Porter ship has begun heading north to the Black Sea to deal with our allies and partners from NATO in the region.”