Putin tells Macron US leading “provocative” exercises in Black Sea

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his French counterpart Emanuel Macron on Monday that “provocative” US-led exercises in the Black Sea were “increasing tensions” between Moscow and NATO, the Kremlin said.

Both leaders expressed “displeasure” over what Moscow described as a “deteriorating” situation in eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Putin “drew attention to the provocative nature of large-scale exercises led by the United States and its allies in the Black Sea, which are escalating tensions between Russia and NATO,” the Kremlin said.

Putin’s comments came after Western concerns about Russian military activity near Ukraine.

According to the Elysee, Macron told Putin that France was ready to defend Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Last week, Putin said the Kremlin viewed recent exercises in the Black Sea by US and other NATO ships as a serious challenge.

He told state television that the Russian Defense Ministry “had a proposal to carry out its own unplanned exercises in the same waters.”

“But I think this is inappropriate and there is no need to escalate the situation further,” he said.

Putin apparently referred to several US warships that took part in exercises in the Black Sea, which Moscow said it was “watching”.

According to a Kremlin statement, Putin also criticized Ukraine for its “recent use” of drones in its conflict with pro-Russian rebels.

Last month, Kiev released footage of what it said was the first use of the Turkish TB2 Bayraktar drone against separatists.

Putin said this violates the peace agreements signed in Minsk in 2015.

In Washington, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby dismissed criticism of US maneuvering as saying that Russian military activity near Ukraine “remains a matter of concern to us”.

Kirby said the United States is open to military exercises, issuing press releases with details and photos of them.

The story goes on

“All our exercises are defensive in nature and are in line with the alliances and commitments of our partners in the region,” he said.

“There has been no transparency on the part of Russia regarding this concentration of forces in the western part of their country.”

Top US diplomat Anthony Blinken warned Moscow last week not to make another “serious mistake” about Ukraine, as Washington sought clarity on troop movements near the border.

The EU has also said it is concerned about Russian military activity near the border.

The 27-nation bloc said it was monitoring the situation with partners, including the United States and Britain.

The allegations come amid growing tensions between the EU and Moscow over a migrant dispute on the border between Poland and Belarus, allied with the Kremlin.

In 2014, Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula of Kiev, and since then Ukraine has fought in conflict with pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country. The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 13,000 people.

oc / ah / mlm