Russia ramps up the rhetoric over Moldova, saying West wants to control it; Kremlin slams German military leak
A war of words has erupted between Russia and Germany over a leaked audio recording purportedly of German military officials discussing weaponry for Ukraine, and potential Russian targets.
The Kremlin claimed Monday that the recording showed that the German military department “is substantively and specifically discussing plans for strikes on Russian territory,” Russia Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday.
Reacting to the leak, Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Sunday accused Russia of conducting an “information war” against Berlin to create divisions within the country.
Pistorius said Sunday that the leak — an embarrassment for Berlin that raised questions over basic military security protocol — was “part of an information war that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is waging.”
During the call, German officers were heard discussing the possible delivery of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, possible strike targets such as the Crimean bridge, as well as stating that British troops were “on the ground” in Ukraine.
NATO soldiers take part in a training exercise
Soldiers from various NATO countries on Monday took part in an instalment of NATO’s Steadfast Defender 2024 military training exercise.
The months-long exercise is the largest since the Cold War and will take place in various countries across Europe and cover domains including sea, air, cyber, land and space, NATO said in a statement in January.
US Army soldiers are taking part in a joint military exercise with forces from several NATO countries on the Vistula.
Soldiers from Spain drive a Leopard tank after crossing the Wistula river as they take part in the NATO DRAGON-24 military exercise in Korzeniewo, northern Poland, March 4, 2024.
Bundeswehr soldiers and British soldiers take part in a joint military exercise with armed forces from several NATO countries on the Vistula.
Soldiers cross the Wistula river with Abrams tanks as they take part in the NATO DRAGON-24 military exercise in Korzeniewo, northern Poland, March 4, 2024.
Russia ramps up the rhetoric over Moldova
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov takes part in the presentation of a collection of archive documents republished to mark the tenth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, in Moscow, Russia, February 15, 2024.
The West is seeking to take control of the leadership of Moldova as it did with Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
“From the very beginning of the post-Soviet era, the West began to wedge itself into relations between Russia and its neighbors. They are still pursuing the same policy,” Lavrov said, news agency RIA Novosti reported, with the comments translated by Google.
Lavrov’s comments will raise eyebrows among Western observers who fear that Moscow could use a request by pro-Russian separatists in the breakaway region of Transnistria in Moldova for “protection” as a precursor to trying to annexing the region.
Similarly to Ukraine, Moldova has a pro-Western government and wants to join the European Union, meaning relations with Russia continue to be tense.
“This is also visible in Central Asia , in the Transcaucasus. This is also visible in the European part of the former USSR: Ukraine, Moldova, which they are simply openly preparing to become the successor of Ukraine from the point of view of taking over its entire leadership,” Lavrov said during a speech at the World Youth Festival in Sochi.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry responded to the request last week by saying that the interests of the residents of Transnistria — calling them “compatriots” — was one of Russia’s priorities and that it would carefully consider the request, the ministry told RIA Novosti.
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