West deploys 360,000 soldiers near borders of Russia, Belarus: Shoigu
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Since the conflict broke out, the number of formations of non-regional states of NATO has risen 2.5 times and exceeded 30,000 people.
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A military truck drives up the hill in Baranowo, Poland, Thursday, July 7, 2022 (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk, File)
During a meeting of the board of the military department on Wednesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the West has deployed about 360,000 military personnel and 8,000 armored vehicles along the borders of the Union State of Russia and Belarus.
"Taking into account the armed forces of the Eastern European countries, about 360,000 military personnel, 8,000 armored vehicles, 6,000 artillery systems and mortars, 650 aircraft, and helicopters are deployed in the immediate vicinity of the borders of the Union State," Shoigu said.
The minister added that since the conflict broke out, the number of formations of non-regional states of NATO has risen 2.5 times and exceeded 30,000 people.
Read more: Kiev lost 21,000 soldiers, 2,200+ pieces of equipment in July: Shoigu
Polish ambitions
Shoigu also brought to attention that Warsaw has sketched plans to establish a Polish-Ukrainian union for the subsequent occupation of Western Ukraine.
"Moreover, there are plans to create a regular Polish-Ukrainian union allegedly for ensuring the security of Western Ukraine, but in fact for the subsequent occupation of this territory," he said.
Shoigu also pointed out that Poland had become a "main instrument" of the US anti-Russian policy as Warsaw announced its intent to build the "strongest army" in Europe.
He further said that Poland started to procure weapons for Ukraine from the US, the UK, and South Korea.
Astronomical figures
Since the start of the conflict, the total amount of assistance from NATO, the EU, and their partners to Ukraine has exceeded $160 billion, Shoigu said.
"Since ... February [2022], Ukraine has received hundreds of tanks, more than 4,000 armored combat vehicles and armored vehicles, more than 1,000 field artillery pieces, as well as dozens of modern Western-made multiple launch rocket systems and anti-aircraft missile systems. The total amount of assistance from NATO, the European Union, and their partners exceeded $160 billion," the Russian Defense Minister said.
These figures coincide with a report published on August 7 by the Financial Times which details how Europe's largest firms have suffered at least 100 billion euros in direct losses after the beginning of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.
On weapons and fighter jets
As the US sought to increase its chances of defeating Russia, it committed a war crime by supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions, Shoigu said, noting that the weapon is prohibited under international law.
Washington's decision has been widely criticized by human rights activists, some US lawmakers, and even former top officials in the United States Army, Pentagon, and NATO.
National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby justified their use on the basis that they are "having an impact on Russia’s defensive formations and Russia’s defensive maneuvering."
Read more: Russia would use cluster bombs if US supplies them to Ukraine: Shoigu
With regards to F-16 jets, Shoigu said that "NATO countries are currently actively working on the issue of transferring F-16 tactical fighters to Kiev," despite the fact that there are still no updates on whether European allies have established a plan of action to train Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter planes.
Risk of further escalations anticipated
On a final and important note, the Defense Minister said that Western countries' readiness to invest significant resources in Ukraine creates risks of further escalation of the conflict.
"The readiness of the West to invest in Ukraine a significant part of the available resources in order to turn the situation on the battlefield in its favor creates serious risks of further escalation of the conflict," Shoigu said.
Read more: Zelensky joins Saudi peace talks in bad faith fearing Western pressure
Over the past weekend, Saudi Arabia held a summit in Jeddah to discuss the Ukraine conflict and possible ways to address it.
Upon the completion of the summit which hosted participants from over 30 countries -- with the exception of Russia -- members agreed that they respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and that the UN's Charter should constitute the basis for any peace agreement in the context of the Ukraine conflict.
They also agreed to create working groups on the ten points of the peace formula set forth by Kiev.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later said that Moscow expects BRICS member-states that partook in the Jeddah summit to provide details of their consultations.
"We expect that, in accordance with the agreements, they [BRICS countries] will share their assessments with us and reaffirm our position on the so-called peace formula of [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy, which the Kiev regime and the West are trying to promote during such meetings. None of its 10 points is aimed at finding a negotiated and diplomatic solution to the crisis," Zakharova said in a statement.
