NATO Concerns Over Russian Carrier Group in Mediterranean ‘Ridiculous’

According to the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's European Cooperation Department, NATO has no reason to worry about the presence of Russian carrier group in the Mediterranean.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — NATO has no reason to worry about the presence of Russian carrier group in the Mediterranean, as the Russian Aerospace Forces conducted no airstrikes around Aleppo in the past days, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's European Cooperation Department said Thursday.

“These concerns are groundless, because our planes have not been even close to Aleppo for nine days. There are no reasons to worry. A group of ships is now in the Mediterranean. Our ships have always been in the Mediterranean. There are no reasons to suspect something, no reason for [NATO Secretary-General Jens] Stoltenberg's claims. Now, Russian jets do not approach Aleppo, the Ministry of Defense said it. Why make such vague assumptions and political recommendations? This is, of course, ridiculous,” Andrei Kelin told RIA Novosti.

On Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance was seriously concerned about the Russian naval task group's movements in the Mediterranean and its “potential” participation in the operation in Syria’s Aleppo.