Russia Values Statement Of Senior NATO Officials Irresponsible And Escalative

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova. (Twitter/@mfa_russia)

JAKARTA - Russia on Monday assessed that the statement by the most senior military official of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) who said the US-led alliance regarding a preemptive attack on Moscow was highly irresponsible and was an attempt to move towards escalation.

NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone told the Financial Times (FT) the alliance is considering stepping up its response to a hybrid war from Moscow, saying "preliminary strikes" could be considered a "defensive measure."

In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said the statement was seen by Moscow as "a very irresponsible move, which demonstrates the alliance's readiness to continue moving towards escalation."

"We see it as a deliberate attempt to weaken efforts to overcome the Ukraine crisis," Zakharova said.

"People who make such statements must be aware of the risks and possible consequences, including for members of the alliance themselves," he said.

Earlier, Admiral Dragone told FT NATO was considering turning to a more assertive response to cyber operations, sabotage, and Russian airspace abuses, quoted by the Kyiv Independent.

"We are studying everything. In terms of cyber, we tend to be reactive. Being more aggressive or proactive, instead of reactive, is something we are considering," Admiral Dragone told FT.

He also stated that "preemptive attacks", under some circumstances, could be seen as "defensive measures", while recording such an approach "far from our normal way of thinking and behavior."