NATO exercises starting on April 26 in Finland and in close proximity to the Russian-Finnish border are provocative in nature, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, told RIA state news agency in remarks published on Wednesday.

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“NATO military exercises near the Russian borders are provocative in nature. Their task is to exert military pressure on the Russian Federation through a demonstration of force,” Zakharova said.

“The drills … increase the risks of possible military incidents.”