MOSCOW – Russia is taking all necessary measures to ensure its own security amid NATO’s enlargement toward its borders, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on June 8, after journalists asked him to comment on the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada’s decision to resume the country’s course toward NATO membership.
“Moscow has historically treated the process of NATO’s enlargement toward our borders with mistrust and concern; we believe this threatens our security and the balance of forces in the Eurasian region. It goes without saying that Russia is taking all necessary measures to rebalance the situation and protect its own interests and its own security,” Peskov said.
He was asked whether Ukraine has any chances to join the alliance.
“It’s not for us to make such a decision, but in essence, this is a country where a civil war is ongoing. And as for the rest, this is a decision to be made in Brussels and also in the capitals that perform the general management of the process,” Peskov said.
