(CNN) A massive US-led military exercise involving 18,000 soldiers from 19 nations, primarily NATO members, kicked off along the alliance's eastern border Sunday. Saber Strike 18 will take place until June 15 in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. JUST WATCHED US, NATO allies plan show of force for Russia Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH US, NATO allies plan show of force for Russia 02:48The exercise will be conducted amid heightened tensions with Moscow, which views any NATO military activities along its border negatively, maintaining that it increases "mutual distrust." Poland recently revealed it is considering a proposal for a permanent deployment of US troops to the country -- a move Russia denounced as "gradual expansion of NATO" towards its borders. "When NATO infrastructure directly approaches our borders, this certainly does not contribute to security and stability on the continent in any way," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said while responding to a question about the creation of a US military base in Poland.

Source: CNN June 04, 2018 00:01 UTC