Russia knocks reports of Poland seeking permanent US military presence inside its borders

Russia on Monday reportedly knocked reports that Poland wants to secure a permanent U.S. military presence inside its borders.

“When we see the gradual expansion of NATO military structures towards our borders … this of course in no way creates security and stability on the continent,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Reuters.

{mosads}Poland’s defense minister said earlier Monday that he discussed permanently stationing thousands of U.S. troops in Poland who are currently there on a temporary mission with American officials, The Associated Press reported.

Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said the U.S. Senate has been in touch with the Pentagon on the issue, the news service added.

It also pointed to a report in Poland that said as much as $2 billion is being pledged to support the permanent U.S. troops.

The AP noted Polish security concerns following Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the Kremlin’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Defense Secretary James Mattis and Błaszczak met at the Pentagon in April “to discuss mutual security issues and to reaffirm the defense relationship between their nations,” according to the Department of Defense.

Mattis at the time described the bond between the militaries and people of the U.S. and Poland as strong and thanked Błaszczak for Poland’s continued hosting of U.S. and NATO forces, and for its contribution to missions against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and in Afghanistan.