Russia to take measures in case if NATO's force configuration changes - Russian envoy
14 April 2014, 18:05 -- Russia can take measures necessary to ensure its security, if NATO will expand military forces near Russian borders, Russian Permanent Representative to NATO Alexander Grushko said. 'No grounds exist for such a decision,' the diplomat said.
'Russia has exited the Cold War and has no intention to return there. At the same time, we will take into account in our military planning any possible changes in NATO forces and configurations and, if necessary, will take necessary measures in the interests of ensuring our security,' Grushko told Interfax on Monday when commenting on statements of NATO representatives that NATO contingent could be sent to Eastern Europe amid the events in Ukraine.
'Nothing is threatening NATO countries and security risks are related to just further degradation of the situation in Ukraine due to the fault of the Kyiv authorities, whom NATO supports morally and financially,' Grushko said.
'Placing additional contingents in Eastern Europe would become a clear signal that supporters of confrontational approaches in relations with Russia are winning in NATO,' he said.
'If NATO is indeed interested in de-escalating the situation in Ukraine, what NATO leaders are saying all the time, then now is the time to take relevant steps - firstly, by making the government refuse criminal plans to suppress protests in thecountry's south-east by force,' Grushko said.
NATO builds its naval presence in the Black Sea - Russian Defense Ministry
NATO is actively building its naval presence in the Black Sea in view of sharp aggravation of the Ukraine crisis, a Russian Defence Ministry source told the Russian news agency TASS on Thursday.
'Destroyer USS Donald Cook equipped with the Aegis combat missile defense system has just entered the Black Sea. According to our information, it is going to be joined by French reconnaissance ship Dupuy de Lome by April 11. French Navy's destroyer Dupleix is expected to enter the Black Sea on April 14,' the source went on to say.
'Considering the presence of the French Navy's rescue vessel Alize in the south-eastern part of the Black Sea since late March, we can say that NATO is building a naval grouping in the Black Sea in the vicinity of the Russian border for the first time since 2008,' the Russian Defence Ministry source said.
Placing NATO forces on territories bordering Russia to violate Alliance's obligations - Lavrov
NATO placing military forces near Russian borders will be in violation of NATO's international obligations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Interfax. 'The fact that NATO members [East European NATO members] are now being forced, most likely under pressure, to place troops near Russia, is a violation of the basic act of Vienna declaration principles,' Lavrov said.
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