Defence News
Russia warns of ‘dire consequences’ for NATO
Attempts to expand NATO eastwards will lead to “dire consequences” for the US-led bloc, and there is no way Moscow will shift from its position opposing the alliance’s enlargement, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said.
Speaking to the newspaper Izvestia, Sergey Ryabkov claimed that a succession of Soviet and Russian leaders were “repeatedly told” that there would be no further movement of NATO to the east, but the opposite has shown itself to be true.
“There should be no further expansion of NATO,” Ryabkov said. “Attempts to present things as if Russia does not have a right of a veto here are all untenable. We will stand our ground. If our opponents go against us, they will see that their security is not strengthened. The consequences for them will be dire.”
The deputy foreign minister’s warning comes as tensions on the frontier between Russia and Ukraine continue to rise, with the Kremlin accused of building up troops near the border.
