"NATO's Massive Steadfast Defender Exercises Spark Tensions with Russia"

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko criticized NATO's Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises, calling it an "irrevocable return" to Cold War strategies and part of a "hybrid war" against Russia. NATO's largest exercise since the Cold War involves 90,000 troops and aims to rehearse potential reinforcement of European allies in case of conflict with a "near-peer" adversary, without explicitly naming Russia. Tensions between NATO and Russia continue to escalate amid accusations and military maneuvers, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine further exacerbating the situation.