NATO Calls on Russia To Be Transparent With Military Exercises

NATO's secretary general called on Russia on Friday to be open about its "Zapad-2021" military exercises and the troop numbers involved as alarm grows in Poland, the Baltics and Ukraine about Moscow's intentions.

Previous "Zapad", or West, exercises along the border that Russia shares with NATO have been on a vast scale, according to allied officials, who say Moscow has habitually underreported their size despite international rules. "Russia should behave in a predictable and transparent way," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told Reuters. The main phase of the exercises is due to start on Sept. 10.