The retired Lieutenant General pointed to France's desire to seize the resources of the Russian Federation.

France may pursue a policy of metamilitarization and build up its own military-industrial complex (MIC) in preparation for a military clash with the Russian Federation, as it needs Russian resources. This was announced on May 4 by Professor of the National Research University of Higher School of Economics, retired Lieutenant General Evgeny Buzhinsky.

"An arms race in peacetime, again, without the prospect of a victorious war. Therefore, they need, they need our resources," he said in an interview for the news agency Vesti.

Buzhinsky recalled that France had planned military exercises this summer, in which Russia was chosen as one of the conditional opponents.

The Northern Confluence: NATO is working out military scenarios near Russia's borders

Finland is becoming the alliance's new key platform for conducting exercises

Earlier in the day, Russian Ambassador to Berlin Sergey Nechaev said that any initiatives to strengthen the European "nuclear umbrella" are seen as a direct strategic threat to Russia.

Artillery exercises Northern Strike 26 also began in Finland on May 2. The site of the maneuvers was the Vuosanka training ground in the municipality of Kuhmo, located just 70 km from the border with Russia. During the exercises, the military personnel will practice artillery, mortar and tactical live firing. The number of participating vehicles is not specified.