REUTERS
Russian Ambassador to Belarus Alexander Surikov has said that the Russian military base in the town of Klintsy in Bryansk region is necessary as "the radicalism in Ukraine is on the rise."
"As far as I understand, the Minsk agreements are failing, and radicalism in Ukraine once again starts to rise. New forces are being formed, which are ultra-right, more radical…" Surikov said at a press conference in Minsk, according to Belarus European Radio.
According to him, "a war line once again begins to prevail in Ukraine."
"We would not want it to prevail. We will be able to stop it on the border with Russia. That's all. Preventive measures," Surikov said.
Read also"ANACONDA-2016": NATO exercises war against Putin – BILDHe added that the Russian side was concerned that the conflict with Ukraine might go further. "Even though it [Ukraine] is, perhaps, weaker than Russia -- I do not assess its military prowess -- but these measures are of a preventive nature," he said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Russia is building a military base near its border with Ukraine, the latest in a chain of new military sites along what the Kremlin sees as its frontline in a growing confrontation with NATO.