The Kremlin stated on Monday that Russia's upcoming nuclear drills were a reaction to "unprecedented" remarks, particularly from French President Emmanuel Macron, regarding the potential deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine.
In response to inquiries from reporters about the motivation behind the drills, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov pointed to statements made by Macron and British representatives.
"They are talking about the readiness and even the intention of sending armed contingents to Ukraine -- that is, in fact, to put NATO soldiers in front of the Russian military," Peskov explained. He emphasized that such statements represent a significant escalation of tensions and necessitate special measures.
Macron's recent interview, where he suggested that the deployment of troops to Ukraine could be considered if Russia breached Ukrainian front lines and if Kyiv requested such assistance, was highlighted by Peskov as a key factor prompting the drills.
"I'm not ruling anything out because we are facing someone who is not ruling anything out," Macron had said, referring to Putin. Macron had previously made similar comments in February.
Similarly, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron's statement in a recent interview about Ukraine's "right" to strike targets inside Russia was cited by Peskov as contributing to the need for heightened readiness.
Although Ukrainian forces have relied on Western military aid in their conflict with Russia, NATO has reiterated its stance of refraining from sending troops into Ukraine.