In a statement, the Kremlin said that during the call with Macron, Putin “discussed the provocative nature of the large-scale exercises conducted by the United States and some of its allies in the Black Sea, which could escalate tension between Russia and NATO,” according to AFP.
The Russian president had described military exercises in the Black Sea in which several US military ships participated last week as a “serious challenge”.
His latest comments come against a backdrop of rising tensions over the conflict in Ukraine, which have also worsened since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
It is noteworthy that Kiev has been engaged in a conflict for seven years against separatists loyal to Moscow in the eastern part of its territory.
In recent days, tensions have risen with the United States and the European Union expressing concern about the recent build-up of Russian forces on Ukraine’s border.
For his part, Emmanuel Macron, during a phone call with Putin, on Monday, expressed his “grave concern” and his country’s readiness to “defend Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” according to the French presidency.
For his part, according to the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin accused Kiev of pursuing a “destructive policy”, noting “Ukraine’s recent use of drones in the conflict zone”, AFP reported.
Ukraine’s use of a Turkish-made military drone against pro-Russian separatists last month infuriated Moscow.
In Washington, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby rejected Putin’s criticism of US exercises in the Black Sea.
Kirby said that Russia’s military activities near Ukraine “continue to worry us,” stressing that Washington is transparent about its military exercises and always publishes press releases that include details and accompanying pictures.
“All of our exercises are defensive in nature and are part of our alliances in the region,” the Pentagon spokesman added.
A US Defense Department spokesman accused Moscow of covering up its military activities near the Ukrainian border, and said, “There has been no transparency on the part of the Russians regarding this concentration of their forces in the western part of their country.”
.