US sends warships into Black Sea to pressure Russia
The US accusation that Russia is increasing its military forces in the Black Sea is a "direct slander", made to distract attention from its growing military and weapons presence in the region, and to exert political pressure on Russia.
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| A US Navy soldier on duty in the Black Sea. Photo: AP |
Deputy Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee at the Federation Council, the Russian upper house of parliament, Evgeny Serebrennikov, told Sputnik.
"Recently, the United States has been trying to accuse Russia of strengthening its nuclear potential, increasing nuclear weapons and now its presence in the Black Sea. This is a direct slander, an attempt to distract attention from the increased military and weapons presence of the United States itself," said Serebrennikov.
He noted that Washington's actions are also an attempt to exert political pressure on Russia. "These efforts, as the Russian President and the Defense Minister have said, will be in vain," the senator said.
Previously, CNN quoted US military sources as saying that the US Navy is increasing its presence in the Black Sea to counter Russia's increased forces in the region.
According to sources from the Pentagon, Russia has become more sensitive to the presence of US military forces in the region, Moscow fears that the potential of the US military will weaken Russia's advantages.
On January 18, two US Navy destroyers, Carney and Ross, entered the Black Sea. The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, called the appearance of the destroyers a provocation.
