Europe

NATO criticizes new Russian missiles near Poland, Lithuania

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a question, as he takes part in a meeting of "People's Front" Forum in Moscow, Russia on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. (Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016 and made from the video footage taken from Russian Defense Ministry official web site, the Russian military launches a missile from a Bastion missile launcher in Syria. The Interfax reported Monday Nov. 21, 2016, that the military has put Bastion missile-launchers on duty in the Kaliningrad exclave in the nation's westernmost Baltic region that borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania.(Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/ Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, and made from the footage taken from Russian Defense Ministry official web site the Russian military launches a missile from a Bastion missile launcher in Syria. The Interfax reported Monday Nov. 21, 2016, that the military has put Bastion missile-launchers on duty in the Kaliningrad exclave in the nation's westernmost Baltic region that borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania.(Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/ Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

NATO is criticizing Russia's deployment of anti-ship missiles in its westernmost Baltic region as "aggressive military posturing," and is urging dialogue to cool escalating tensions.

NATO said in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday that the missile deployment near the alliance's borders "does not help to lower tensions or restore predictability to our relations." NATO called for more transparency on military activities "to avoid incidents and the risk of misunderstandings."

Moscow has vigorously objected to the deployment of NATO's military units near Russia's borders, and is now reportedly installing Bastian missile-launchers in the Kaliningrad exclave, which borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania.

President Vladimir Putin said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies Monday night that Moscow would target NATO sites if it thinks they threaten Russia.