Russia's top general announced that defensive measures will be taken against increased NATO activity near its borders, according to Reuters.

An increasing number of ships, planes and NATO troops highly organized and trained in operations and combat readiness have been observed in Poland, Romania and the Baltic, near its borders, chief general of staff Valery Gerasimov of the Russian armed forces said in a conference in Moscow, Friday.

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Oana Lungesco, spokeswoman for NATO responded, saying that NATO's military presence is simply a defensive tactic in an effort to ease tensions in Ukraine and its neighboring allies after Russia's takeover of the Crimea region.

"NATO's core job is to defend allies and this is what we are doing," she added, urging for the withdrawal of Russia's troops in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed last year that his decision to annex the Crimea region was partly attributed to Russia's attempt to curb the alliance's increasing control over Eastern Europe.

Currently, NATO has 28 member nations under its protection, some of which were previously under the Russian Federation's control.

In the past months, Russia has sent its military troops in eastern Ukraine to safeguard its interests in the Crimea region. But the deputy defense minister of Russia explained that the troops are expected to be withdrawn in a few days.

Last month, to demonstrate its protest against Russia's control of the Crimean peninsula, NATO has halted cooperation with the former.

The Crimean peninsula declared independence from Ukraine on March 17. The following day, a treaty was signed between Crimea and Russia, ultimately resulting in the annexation of the peninsula to the Russian Federation. Nevertheless, Russia's control of the Crimean peninsula is not recognized by the United Nations and has declared it to be invalid and illegal.

TagsRussia, Federation, Ukraine, Crimea, Crimean peninsula, Crimean crisis, Ukraine crisis, NATO, World News