The State Duma pointed out the aggressive, not defense nature of NATO

Western statements that NATO's activities are of a defense nature are a fairy tale for an unsophisticated audience; the alliance is pursuing an aggressive policy. This was stated by Alexei Zhuravlev, first deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma Defense Committee, in a conversation with Izvestia on November 25.

Earlier in the day, Rob Bauer, head of NATO's military committee, said that the organization was discussing the launching of preventive "precision strikes" on Russian territory if a conflict broke out. He also emphasized that one should not "sit and wait" for NATO to be attacked, but immediately destroy launchers in the Russian Federation.

"The fairy tale that NATO is a defense alliance would be gladly listened to in Yugoslavia, Libya and Syria, countries that were almost destroyed to the ground by the troops of this bloc. <...> The messages that it is time to change strategy are designed for an unsophisticated Western audience that is still not accustomed to accepting the noodles of NATO propaganda. Without any doubt [Bauer's statement] has the character of a threat. And we understand that very well. That's why we fully assess such things, we have everything ready for it," Zhuravlev commented.

He also noted that the 5th article of the charter of the North Atlantic Alliance, which assumes that all NATO members are obliged to stand up for defense if there is a threat to only one, was used only once, after the explosion of the Twin Towers in New York. Moreover, it was the US that was asked for help then.

"But even in that case it can be very conditionally called defense, after that terrorist attack Afghanistan was bombed for some reason, which actually had nothing to do with the incident. Everything else is pure aggression, attacks on sovereign states, which were committed without any UN sanctions, simply because the Western community decided so," the politician summarized.

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Earlier, on November 23, Ukraine 's ambassador to London and former commander-in-chief of its army Valeriy Zaluzhny said that NATO countries were not ready for a long-term confrontation with Russia. As Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev pointed out at the same time, although Russia is now confronted by the entire NATO bloc, the country is still capable of producing the required number of all types of weapons on its own.

Before that, on November 12, Bauer expressed the opinion that if Russia did not have nuclear weapons, NATO would have sent its troops to Ukraine long ago.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a plenary session of the Valdai Club on November 7, called NATO the only remaining bloc in the world and a "blatant anachronism." He noted that the alliance, which has lost its relevance, violates international norms and its own principles.

The West regularly stirs up hysteria among the citizens of its countries, warning of an allegedly imminent war with Russia. The Russian leader has repeatedly stated that nothing of the sort is in the country's plans.