Zakharova: Blaming Russia nothing but Western propaganda
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Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson calls on Western media to focus on NATO's activity in the Black Sea "instead of being troubled over Russia."
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Zakharova argued that Western media should highlight the NATO troops positioned in Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Thursday that "the West’s attempt to blame Russia for deploying troops on the border with Ukraine is nothing but propaganda."
Responding to a question asked by RT Deutsch about whether Russia intends to attack Ukraine, especially upon the deployment of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine, the spokesperson argued that Western media should highlight the NATO troops positioned in Ukraine and the weapons provided to Ukraine in the previous years.
Zakharova also pointed out the numerous drills that NATO practiced in the Black Sea, "designating Russia as its notional enemy," according to TASS.
"This is what our Western partners should be concerned about instead of being troubled over Russia, a sovereign state, having its own armed forces on its own territory," Zakharova expressed.
TASS reported that "Russia handed the US a list of at least five cases of provocative actions that US Air Force aircraft had conducted against civilian flights over the Black Sea."
Moscow denies planning to invade Ukraine
The Russian diplomat announced that the foreign ministry considers the proposals for security guarantees, which were submitted to the US State Department, a basis for starting a substantive dialogue between the two sides.
Moscow denies planning to invade Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that "Russia has never planned to attack anyone," adding, "But we have our own red lines."
In addition, Russia-based newspaper Kommersant quoted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that Russia denied news reports in the US media about a possible Russian attack on Ukraine, accusing Washington of trying to escalate the situation and holding Moscow responsible.
On his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Moscow pursues a peaceful foreign policy but has every right to defend its security in the medium and long terms.
