Senior Diplomat Says Russia Will Not Attack NATO Countries

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/US Department of State)

JAKARTA - A senior Moscow diplomat said in an interview Russia would not attack NATO countries (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and would not plan such aggressive measures.

"The relationship between Russia and NATO has not only reached its lowest point since the end of the Cold War era. The alliance is clearly pursuing a direction against our country and containing the 'threats' that are thought to have been posed by us," Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the European ministry of Foreign Affairs' European affairs department, told the Izvestia newspaper, adding the trend was seen across the field. , reported TASS January 13.

He further said Moscow had never tried to worsen relations with the alliance.

"Russia has never tried to worsen relations with NATO. Alliance is completely to blame for degrading such relations. We will not attack NATO countries, and we also do not make such aggressive plans," he explained.

According to the diplomat, Russia and the North Atlantic Alliance maintain so-called direct communication lines and opportunities for emergency contacts to remain available.

"In connection with normal contacts and dialogue mechanisms that can be used to find ways to defuse tensions, the alliance has rejected it. That is not our choice," he explained.

"In 2014, NATO unilaterally suspended cooperation with us on the Russia-NATO Council in military and civilian fields," he recalled.