Pentagon chief has promised to prevent Russia “draw” the world in the past – RBC

Pentagon chief Ashton Carter

Photo: AP

The US and its allies would not allow Russia” to engage them in the past, “said the Pentagon chief Ashton Carter during his visit to Berlin, reports Reuters. Carter condemned Moscow for attempting to recreate the Soviet sphere of influence. He stressed that the alliance will always keep open the “door” to improve relations with Russia. “The choice is up to the Kremlin”, – said the head of the Pentagon.

«We are not seeking nor cold, nor even a” hot “war with Russia. We are not looking for opportunities to make an enemy of Russia, – said Carter. – But make no mistake: we will defend our allies, rules-based international order and a positive future, which he delivers to us ».

According to Carter, the US will rely not on the scenario of the Cold War, but on a combination of military and sanctions measures. “The United States will not allow Russia to draw us into the past,” – concluded the head of the Pentagon.

In recent years, the mutual rhetoric between Moscow and Washington with its NATO allies markedly escalated. In early June, The Associated Press learned of the intention to place the White House aimed at Russia’s nuclear potential ground missiles in Europe or Asia, and the newspaper The New York Times described the US plans to deploy warehouses with heavy equipment, including tanks, in Eastern Europe .

After that, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the opening of the forum “Army 2015″ reported that in 2015 in the arms of the armed forces received more than 40 intercontinental ballistic missiles, which “will be able to overcome any, even the most technically advanced missile defense system. ” Representatives of the Defense Ministry blamed NATO attempts to draw Moscow into a new arms race.

In response, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg criticized Russia for “saber-nuclear weapons.” Ashton Carter later admitted that tensions between Russia and NATO and the United States may continue after the end of Vladimir Putin’s presidency.

Earlier, the head of the Pentagon noted that the US and EU imposed sanctions will not have the desired effect on Moscow, so the answer the Ukrainian crisis should be both political and military. As examples of preparations for a protracted conflict with Russia Carter led the intense military exercises of NATO and the establishment within NATO rapid reaction force.

According to the magazine Der Spiegel, some allies of the United States is concerned about increased military presence of NATO in Europe. In particular, Germany and France refused to support the intention of the White House to place in the region of cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. In addition, the publication stated that Berlin evaluates the threat from Moscow is not as high as in Washington. Sources told the magazine that the deputy head of the Federal Intelligence Service of Germany, Guido Mueller called “propaganda show” Vladimir Putin’s statement about increasing Russian missile arsenal.

At a meeting with representatives of news agencies in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Russian President Vladimir Putin has assured that “growth hostile rhetoric between Russia and the United States does not mean that the world is facing a growing threat of confrontation with nuclear weapons. ” In this earlier at a joint press conference with the President of Finland, the Russian leader promised that Moscow will target its impact forces and means of threatening her territory.