MOSCOW. June 11 (Interfax) - The non-strategic nuclear exercise of Russia and Belarus is necessary to ensure their combat readiness, in particular against the backdrop of tensions in Europe provoked on a daily basis by the hostile actions of Europe and the United States in relation to Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"Indeed, the issue is high on the current agenda, and as you know, experts talk a lot about this, the issue of tactical weapons, as the situation on the European continent is quite tense and is provoked on a daily basis by the decisions and actions of European capitals and above all Washington, which are hostile towards Russia. Such provocations occur on a daily basis, so clearly, exercises of this kind ensuring our combat capacities are crucial to us," Peskov told reporters.
He was asked about the reason for the Russian and Belarusian exercise and whether it could be viewed as a message to the West in the context of Russian President Vladimir Putin's comment on the possible delivery of weapons to countries under pressure from the states supplying Ukraine with weapons and allowing it to strike targets inside Russia.
The exercise is a normal practice, Peskov said. "If there are certain types of weapons, then accordingly, the Armed Forces must maintain their combat readiness at a proper level and conduct exercises," he said.