VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) – The three Baltic states are watching with concern the latest round of Russian military drills that some analysts believe could be the largest of their kind since the Cold War.
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, who often criticizes Russian leaders, says the mid-September military exercise in Belarus is a sign that Kremlin is preparing for a serious conflict with NATO.
“We are anxious about this drill … it is an open preparation for war with the West,” she told reporters.
In this photo taken on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, Russian military pilots are presented with traditional welcoming bread-and-salt as they arrive at an airbase at undisclosed location in Belarus. Russia and Belarus are holding a massive war games, Zapad 2017, that due to start on Thursday near the borders of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. (Vayar Military Agency photo via AP)
Russia and Belarus say the exercises, which last until Sept. 20, will involve 5,500 Russian and 7,200 Belarusian troops.
In this photo taken on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, Russian military pilots are presented with traditional welcoming bread-and-salt as they arrive at an airbase at undisclosed location in Belarus. Russia and Belarus are holding a massive war games, Zapad 2017, that due to start on Thursday near the borders of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. (Vayar Military Agency photo via AP)
In this photo taken on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, A Russian military jet is parked at an airbase at an undisclosed location in Belarus. Russia and Belarus are holding a massive war games, Zapad 2017, that due to start on Thursday near the borders of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. (Vayar Military Agency photo via AP)
In this photo taken on Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, Belarusian army vehicles drive preparing for war games at an undisclosed location in Belarus. Russia and Belarus are holding a massive war games, Zapad 2017, that due to start on Thursday near the borders of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. (Vayar Military Agency photo via AP)
In this photo taken on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, Russian military pilots, right, report upon arrival at an airbase at an undisclosed location in Belarus. Russia and Belarus are holding a massive war games, Zapad 2017, that due to start on Thursday near the borders of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. (Vayar Military Agency photo via AP)
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