UKRAINE

The system was expected to be ready "in a few years."

The exercises come at a time of deep division between China and Russia in the East and the U.S.-led West.

Fears are growing that a six-month ceasefire could crumble altogether.

The highlight of the drills will take place at the end of August, when warplanes drop more than 1,000 paratroopers over Germany.

Russia arrested Eston Kohver on espionage charges in September last year.

NATO is setting up a tent command center in preparation for a large-scale training exercise planned for late September.

Two fumbled contracts with India and Egypt for hundreds of Dassault Rafale fighter jets will see Paris lose close to $57 billion.

After dropping off food and provisions, a Russian plane took home some 87 Russian citizens and others.

Despite scaling back its presence in Europe over the last decade, the U.S. military is re-establishing itself along the eastern front with Russia.

"We are worried by the developments in recent days which strongly recall preparation for more military actions," said Lavrov.

North Korea has historically viewed the annual Ulchi-Freedom Guardian military exercises by South Korea and the U.S. as preparations for war.

Russian-backed forces in Ukraine are preparing for "full combat readiness."

The move to call up thousands of reserve troops for refresher training comes amid growing tensions between Moscow and Helsinki.

"Two billion euros, the price of Hollande's whims," the National Front party tweeted in reaction to a failed warship deal with Russia.

Lethal aid has been a sore point for Kiev since U.S. President Barack Obama decided in February to deny Ukraine's request for deadly weapons.

The American real estate mogul ranks No. 9 and is considered a "Kremlin agent," meaning a supporter of Russia in international affairs.

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are expected to train with the Russian navy in addition to other drills this month with China.

The host nation has a commanding lead in a high-profile tank biathlon involving troops from 16 nations.

New legislation proposes that agricultural products seized under Russia's food ban not be destroyed, but rather given as humanitarian aid.

“We have tried to build a cooperative relationship with Russia. But Russia has changed borders by force, continues to support separatists in Ukraine and threatens to base nuclear missiles close to Alliance borders,” NATO said.

While these types of flights have been conducted regularly since 2002, the spy mission comes during a period of strained relations with Moscow.