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The Jerusalem Post

Russia says dialogue channels with NATO at 'zero level' but doesn't seek open conflict

 
 WHEN THE Soviet Union dissolved, Vladimir Putin called it ‘the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.’ (photo credit: SPUTNIK/REUTERS)
WHEN THE Soviet Union dissolved, Vladimir Putin called it ‘the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.’
(photo credit: SPUTNIK/REUTERS)

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, quoted by the state news agency RIA, remarked that the deterioration in Russia-NATO relations is unfolding at a expected progression.

Russia-NATO relations are worsening, but Moscow has no intention of entering a conflict with a NATO country, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said in an interview published on Thursday.

In comments to mark NATO's 75th anniversary, Grushko told Russian state news agency RIA that relations were "predictably and deliberately" deteriorating, and Washington and Brussels had brought all channels of dialog between Moscow and the alliance to a "critical zero" level.

"Is the military bloc ready for an open conflict with Russia? You need to ask the NATO members themselves. In any case, we have no such intentions regarding the alliance's member countries," Grushko said.

President Vladimir Putin launched what he called his "special military operation" in Ukraine in 2022 with the stated aim of preventing NATO from expanding its footprint close to Russia. However, the war galvanized the alliance, which expanded to 32 members by admitting Finland and Sweden.

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Slovak Army soldier stands guard near a NATO's symbol during a ceremony in Slovakia's capital Bratislava to mark the country's entrance to NATO, April 2, 2004. (credit: REUTERS/PETR JOSEK)
Slovak Army soldier stands guard near a NATO's symbol during a ceremony in Slovakia's capital Bratislava to mark the country's entrance to NATO, April 2, 2004. (credit: REUTERS/PETR JOSEK)

Russia: NATO defacto "helping Ukraine"

NATO says it is helping Ukraine fight for its survival in the face of Russian aggression and has provided Kyiv with advanced weapons, training, and intelligence.

Russia says that NATO is de facto a party to the conflict. Putin said in February that a direct conflict between Russia and NATO would mean the planet was one step away from World War Three

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