The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine considers the threat of the Russian military exercises "West-2017" at its borders and is ready to adequately react to them.

This was stated by the head of the department Stepan Poltorak on Friday after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the headquarters of this organization.

"The upcoming exercises" West-2017 ", which the Russian Federation plans to conduct, are extremely powerful. They can be used to launch aggression not only against Ukraine, but also against any country in Europe, which has a common border with Russia. The NATO Secretary General described what threats they see, and said that the NATO grouping in Eastern Europe will be strengthened. Of course, for our part, we will also adequately respond to the conduct of the exercises, "the ministry press service quotes the ministry.

Poltorak also noted that Ukraine is ready to reflect a possible aggression against Ukraine.

"There is a huge transfer of troops and maneuvers (during the Russian exercises - ed. Only for the transfer of personnel ordered 4000 wagons. This is a very large grouping and, of course, carrying out such exercises on the border with Ukraine is a threat, "he said..

As reported, the joint Russian-Belarussian exercise "West-2017" will be held in the autumn and, according to the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andrey Parubiy, can be used for direct aggression or sabotage against Ukraine.

At the same time, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksandr Turchynov notes that these exercises will develop offensive operations in the European direction, in particular to Lithuania and Poland.