Russia’s defense ministry does not rule out possibility of aggression on Ukraine’s part

Russia’s defense ministry does not rule out the possibility that the new Ukrainian authorities may pose a military threat to Russia, Chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov said at the 4^thMoscow Conference on International Security on Thursday.

“Thousands of people have already become victims of the civil war that is de facto taking place in Ukraine and it is hard to say what this all will end in. We all know what instructions the new Ukrainian authorities are receiving from their western supervisors and where they may direct their aggression in future. In any case, this uncertainty is dangerous for Russia,” Gerasimov said.

According to him, today Ukraine is being ruled by radicals and Russia haters, who have legalized the activities of neo-Fascist and nationalist organizations. “Their key policy is to blame Russia for all of their problems and to oppress the Russian-speaking population. They are also using military force in an attempt to subdue the residents of Donbass,” Gerasimov said.

He said that the United States, their NATO allies and the European Union have perceived Russia’s position on Ukraine as a display of “inadmissible” independence in asserting national interests. “In its attempt to “cut Russia down to size” the West exerting political and economic pressure on our country,” Gerasimov said.

He believes that NATO’s efforts to enlarge its military potential are escalating tensions in Europe and worldwide. “Now because of the Ukrainian crisis, civilized Europe has become one more spot of instability,” Gerasimov said.

The key topic of the 4^th Moscow Conference on International Security is global security: challenges and prospects. Representatives of over 70 countries are attending the event.