ISTANBUL, October 22. /TASS/. The European Union seeks to contain Russia across all regions, including the South Caucasus, showing that Brussels continues to prepare for war with Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said.
"They openly say that Russia must be contained in all fields and across all regions, including the Balkans, the South Caucasus and the Baltic Region," he told reporters on the sideline of the Verona Eurasian Economic Forum.
"Now, they have suddenly become concerned about the Arctic, which they claim is becoming the arena of geopolitical competition, and is therefore a region requiring containment. They also see the South Caucasus as an arena of confrontation with Russia," Grushko added.
He noted that the EU had "identified Russia as the main strategic threat - a direct and immediate threat, and also a long-term one." According to Grushko, Brussels’ policy is still focused on preparations for war with Moscow, "and they are really preparing for this war."
"The combined military budget of EU countries has reached 450 billion euros," the senior Russian diplomat said. "If they meet NATO’s target of 5% of GDP for military spending, the total will amount to one trillion euros," he added.