Vladislav Maslennikov, a Russian Foreign Ministry official, said the European Union's military buildup near Russia's borders increases the risk of incidents.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, Maslennikov said Europeans were, in his assessment, being encouraged to prepare for a possible clash with Russia in the coming years. He cited no specific EU actions or potential incidents. His comments represent the Russian Foreign Ministry's position.
Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechayev had earlier commented on public attitudes toward such calls. He said ordinary Europeans did not want to prepare for another “march to the east” and were increasingly skeptical of claims that Russia posed a threat. Lenta.ru carried the remarks, citing Maslennikov's interview with RIA Novosti.