Russian Defense Minister Shoigu surprised about Chuck Hagel's threats

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the remarks from his US counterpart Chuck Hagel on the need to have the American army prepared to deal with the Russian armed forces suggested elaboration of military scenarios near the borders of the Russian Federation.

"The demands on the Army will only grow more diverse and complicated going forward. Threats from terrorists and insurgents will remain with us for a long time, but we also must deal with a revisionist Russia -- with its modern and capable Army -- on NATO's doorstep," Chuck Hagel said.

"Chuck Hagel's thesis about the need to prepare the American army to deal with modern and capable Russian armed forces on NATO doorstep raise serious concerns. This speaks for scenarios of military operations near the borders of our country that the Pentagon elaborates," Interfax quoted Shoigu as saying.

He also noted that he knew US Defense Secretary Hagel in person. "Therefore, his speech at the annual conference of the United States Army, in which Russian forces were designated as a military adversary, surprised me, to put it mildly," said Shoigu.

According to Sergei Shoigu, "there is no hotspot in the world today, where US military would not be present." "Moreover, after the completion of missions to promote democracy, those regions plunge into real bloody chaos. The examples are known: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria and even Ukraine," said Shoigu.