Military activity in Baltic Sea region stepped up by West - Kremlin

MOSCOW – The request of Estonia for an additional NATO contingent to be deployed to the area and Sweden's actions in the Baltic Sea show that it is the West, not Russia, that is increasing tensions in the region, Dmitry Peskov, the Russian president's press secretary, said on Monday.

"As for the request of Estonia and others for the placement of an additional contingent in their area -- this is precisely the proof of the justification of our concern. This, precisely, is proof that it is not us that are responsible for the rise in tension," Peskov told reporters, commenting on Estonia's request to NATO to send an additional contingent and Sweden's actions on the Baltic Sea island of Gotland. 

Kusti Salm, secretary general of the Estonian Ministry of Defense, said that everything is ready to accommodate 5,000 NATO rapid reaction personnel in Estonia.