I see this almost as “posturing” which is different from how we here in the US view posturing.
“At a recent meeting, the US stated that Russia is preparing for war. Yes, Russia is preparing for war, I can confirm it”, Belousov said adding that “We are preparing to defend our homeland, our territorial integrity, our principles, our values, our people.
Russia’s military build-up and large-scale drills, which have often been painted in the Western media as preparations for all-out war, are a defensive necessity, he said.”
The US does the same thing. Do you recall those training missions the military ran recently that had everyone freaked out? Jade Helm, if I recall correctly. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were Russian articles saying “Oh, the US is preparing to attack Moscow!”
Am I saying to ignore this? No. But I am saying, don’t make a big deal of it. Focus locally, on the things affect you first.
On posturing: I recall something I read by a serviceman in Iraq:
In November 2004, I saw two Iraqi cops (!) engage in a gunfight with each other on the south parking lot of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior in Baghdad. Cop #1 had an AK, while #2 had a Glock 19. They were about 50 feet apart and fired all their ammo from each weapon without hitting the other. Other cops showed up in mass, beat their asses and hauled them away all trussed up. So, 45 shots were fired and no hits and I was struck by the fact that they seemed to be missing each other on purpose.
Most people here in the US do not posture in this way. So when the “outside world” postures, we see it as a threat whereas they only intend it as “I’m pissed at you, hear my roar”.
That’s how I see it anyway… If I’m wrong, I’m open to hearing why I’m wrong.