Russian Foreign Ministry says EU military buildup near borders raises risk of incidents
In short
Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's European Problems Department, told RIA Novosti on October 8 that EU countries' military buildup near Russia's borders increases the likelihood of unintended incidents and escalation. He said the EU's latest defence initiatives involve active participation by Ukraine.
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The buildup of military capacity by European Union countries near Russia's borders increases the risk of unintended incidents, Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's European Problems Department, told RIA Novosti on October 8. "The buildup by Europeans of their military potential on our borders raises the likelihood of unintended incidents and increases escalation uncertainty," he said, according to Kommersant and Vedomosti. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Maslennikov said the EU's latest initiatives involve the active participation of Ukraine. RIA Novosti reported that five EU projects aimed at what it called the militarisation of the bloc concern drone defence, maritime defence, space intelligence, air defence and border strengthening. Maslennikov said Brussels and Kyiv were joining forces to inflict a strategic defeat on Moscow, adding: "Needless to say, this attempt is doomed to fail." [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
He also said European leaders were trying to convince their populations of the need to prepare for a confrontation with Russia in the next few years. Kommersant quoted him as saying this idea was being "actively instilled" in Western societies. RIA Novosti noted that Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said Moscow does not intend to start a conflict with Western states. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Vedomosti placed the statement alongside recent military steps by NATO and its members. It reported that on October 5 it became known that NATO is developing a strategy for a possible Russian attack on the alliance's eastern flank, combining ground forces with low-cost drones, systems needing few operators and AI-assisted targeting. It also cited an August Politico report on NATO plans for a unified system of thousands of drones, sensors and satellites along the borders with Russia and Belarus. [ 3 ]
According to Vedomosti, Sweden announced on October 6 that it would send Patriot systems and about 100 troops to Rzeszow in Poland to protect a NATO logistics hub used for military aid to Ukraine, with the operation due to start in early December and run at least until the end of 2026. On September 28, Poland said it planned to change rules for engaging air targets entering its airspace from Russia, allowing the military to fire without prior visual identification, based on radar data, the target's presence in a no-fly zone and information from Ukraine. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The statement sets out the Russian Foreign Ministry's view of EU defence plans near Russia's borders as a source of escalation risk. It was carried by RIA Novosti and repeated by two business newspapers, one of which placed it alongside recent NATO, Swedish and Polish military steps on the alliance's eastern flank.
Key facts
- Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's European Problems Department, made the statement to RIA Novosti. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Maslennikov said the EU's military buildup near Russia's borders raises the likelihood of unintended incidents and increases escalation uncertainty. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He said the EU's latest initiatives involve the active participation of Ukraine. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- RIA Novosti reported five EU projects covering drone defence, maritime defence, space intelligence, air defence and border strengthening. [ 1 ]
- Maslennikov said Brussels and Kyiv aim to inflict a strategic defeat on Moscow and that the attempt is doomed to fail. [ 1 ]
- He said Western publics are being urged to prepare for a confrontation with Russia. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Maslennikov said the EU military buildup near Russia's borders raises the likelihood of unintended incidents. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Maslennikov said recent EU initiatives involve Ukraine's participation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Maslennikov said Europeans are being urged to prepare for a confrontation with Russia. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Which EU body approved the five defence projects and when. The RIA Novosti text describing the projects is truncated and does not name the approving body or the date.
- Details of the air defence project. The RIA Novosti text describing the air defence system is cut off mid-sentence.
- How Ukraine would take part in the EU projects. Maslennikov said the initiatives involve Ukraine but the documents give no details.