“It’s for this reason that he shot down our military – to draw us into the August war. It’s for this reason that he wanted American marines to come to Georgia, to draw Americans into that war. This man is dangerous for the world,” Rogozin said.

Earlier, Russia’s envoy to NATO stated that Moscow views these military exercises as a provocation, and that a planned meeting between Russian and NATO top military officials in early May will not happen unless the alliance cancels the war games.

In an interview with the Vesti television channel, Rogozin said that these exercises will not help Georgia's military potential as “nothing can help Georgia under Saakashvili's rule."

Russia and NATO cut off ties last year, following the war in South Ossetia. Formal relations have recently been restored, although disagreements linger.

Russia is vexed at the alliance's openness to admitting Georgia as a member. Moscow claims the move could provoke new unrest.