France and Germany condemn Russia's Zapad 2017 military exercise on EU borders

According to AFP, French Defense Minister Florence Parly on September 7 condemned Russia's upcoming large military exercise in the border area of ​​the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), saying it was a calculated "strategy of intimidation".

Russian fighter jet. Source: AP

The Zapad 2017 military exercises that Russia will conduct from next week in Belarus and the western Russian enclave of Kaliningrad have caused concern in the Baltic states and Poland as well as criticism from the US and NATO over Moscow's lack of transparency.

Speaking at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Tallinn, Ms Parly said: "It is clear that Moscow is pursuing a 'calculated, deliberate' strategy to demonstrate its military power."

"It is particularly important in the current context that we reaffirm our presence in response to the demonstrations and exercises that Russia is conducting, which are a strategy of intimidation, and we do not need to shy away from that fact," Ms. Parly said.

Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen emphasized: "There is no doubt that we recognize Russia's capabilities and strength. Anyone who doubts that need only look at the huge numbers of forces participating in the Zapad exercise: more than 100,000"./.

According to Vietnam +