Lavrov warned NATO against escalating military activity in Ukraine and the Black Sea

Also, the Russian Foreign Minister accused the United States and NATO of “pumping” the Ukrainian army with weapons.

“Taking this opportunity, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the United States and its NATO allies are stepping up their military activity on the territory of Ukraine and in the Black Sea. They pump up the Ukrainian army with weapons, provide it with financial and material support, train the Armed Forces of Ukraine on NATO methods of warfare”, – Lavrov said.

The Foreign Minister recalled that in 2021, seven joint military exercises of Kiev with NATO countries are planned to be held on the territory of Ukraine.

“That is, every one and a half to two months there are maneuvers. The Ukrainian military is participating in the largest NATO exercise Defender Europe – 2021. Russia is forced to take this into account in its military planning. And, of course, it is unnecessary to say that the militarization of Ukraine does not contribute to the settlement of the conflict in Donbass”, – Lavrov summed up.