Lead

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu has stated that current military exercises in Europe are openly directed against Russia and Belarus, with seven drills currently underway. Speaking after a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Committee of Security Council Secretaries in Moscow on Tuesday, Shoigu said the exercises have an obvious anti-Russian or anti-Union orientation, referring to the Union State of Russia and Belarus.

Coverage Comparison

Two reports from TASS — English, published on May 26, covered Shoigu's remarks. One report focused on the exercises themselves, quoting Shoigu as saying they are conducted "without any attempt at concealment" against Russia and Belarus. The other report emphasized Shoigu's broader accusations against NATO and Western countries, including claims that Nazi ideology is resurging in Europe and that the history of World War II is being actively rewritten.

Key Claims

  • Shoigu told journalists that seven military exercises are currently underway in Europe, all of which are directed against Russia and Belarus. "All of them, without any camouflage, are directed against us," he said, as reported by TASS.
  • At a meeting with State Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council Alexander Volfovich, Shoigu stated that NATO countries are practicing scenarios for launching strikes against the Union State of Russia and Belarus during these exercises, as reported by TASS.
  • Shoigu noted that the meeting of the CSTO Committee of Security Council Secretaries also discussed broader security issues, including the Middle East, Ukraine, and developments at Russia's western borders.
  • He accused Western countries of making no secret of their "aggressive plans" against Russia and Belarus, and claimed that Nazi ideology is rapidly resurfacing in many European countries, with the history of World War II being actively rewritten.
  • Shoigu described Belarus as Russia's closest ally, with "fraternal relations, a shared history, and cultural and spiritual kinship," and said the two countries share identical views on traditional universal values, principles of justice, and security.

Perspectives

Russian Government: The statements by Sergey Shoigu represent the official position of the Russian government. Shoigu characterized the European military exercises as openly hostile to Russia and Belarus, accused NATO of practicing offensive scenarios, and warned of a resurgence of Nazi ideology in Europe.