German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius earlier claimed that Russia could attack the US-led military bloc as soon as next year

Russia does not want a conflict with NATO but could be forced to take measures to ensure its security in response to the bloc's increasingly "militaristic" rhetoric, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Peskov was commenting on remarks by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who last week told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that Russia could attack a NATO member "as early as 2028" or even next year. Pistorius used the claim to press Germany to speed up its militarization drive and overhaul its armed forces.

"This militaristic rhetoric is increasingly heard from European capitals," Peskov told reporters on Monday, stressing that "such statements do not improve the situation" and only escalate tensions.

"Russia does not advocate any confrontation with NATO. But must take measures to ensure our security and interests if forced," he emphasised.

Western officials, including Pistorius, have long used the threat of allegedly looming Russian aggression to justify military spending spikes such as Brussels' €800 billion ReArm Europe plan and NATO members' pledge to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP. Moscow has rejected such claims as "nonsense."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also addressed Pistorius' interview and said it leaves "no doubt who the aggressor is," given his push to expand Germany's military might. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has previously warned that Germany is showing "clear signs of re-Nazification."

Moscow has voiced concern about NATO's growing activity along Russia's western borders: the bloc has expanded its presence in Eastern Europe and held frequent drills while calling it deterrence. The Kremlin insists that Russia poses no threat to anyone but will not ignore actions it deems dangerous to its security.

(RT.com)