Moscow will take into consideration the activity of NATO forces near Russia's borders when drawing up its military planning, Russia's envoy to NATO was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency on Thursday.
"Obviously, we will take into consideration the configuration and activity of the NATO forces at the Russian borders in our military planning, and will take all that is necessary to reliably provide security and to ensure safety against any threats," envoy Alexander Grushko told Interfax.
NATO has taken a series of steps to reinforce its military presence in eastern Europe since the crisis began in Ukraine, which is fighting a pro-Russian insurgency.
Longer-term measures are expected to be agreed at a NATO summit in Wales next week.
Grushko said the alliance's plans to beef up its forces near Russian borders only complicates NATO's relations with Moscow.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
