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NATO uses Ukraine crisis to increase presence along Russian borders — official

Russia's Ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko says Russia is ready to cooperate with NATO if the Alliance pays due consideration to the country's national interests
Russia's Ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin
Russia's Ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko
© ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin

MOSCOW, September 05. /ITAR-TASS/. NATO used the Ukraine crisis to increase its military presence along Russian borders, Russia’s Ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 TV news channel on Friday.

Grushko said NATO had used the Ukraine crisis not only to strengthen its relations with Ukrain,e but also to “flex muscles” near Russia’s borders.

“NATO is weakening its own position as a player with global ambitions after it shunned cooperation with Russia on Afghanistan and on struggle with terrorism and piracy,” he said. “NATO will not solve anything by itself and moreover, efforts taken by NATO alone are only negatively affect the situation.”

“The problem with NATO is that when it pumps its infrastructure up or when it pumps up its muscles, the alliance does not think about the European security,” Grushko said.

Russia is ready to cooperate with NATO if the Alliance pays due consideration to the country's national interests, Grushko said. "We are ready to cooperate with the Alliance under the condition that it will pay due regard to our national interests," Grushko said, underscoring that "cooperation is possible only on these conditions".