News
13 february 2016
Global security challenges require cooperation on an equal footing, with common goals and on the basis of the international law. What we see now in the MENA region, in Afghanistan makes it clear that we should altogether engage in a common security exercise above institutional dividing lines. Any attempts to create isolated islands of security are doomed". "The current challenges faced by Europe, such as terrorism and migration, demand that NATO cooperate, including with Russia. Without Russia no concrete results can be achieved"".
"What is NATO doing? What I heard today is a demonstration of the fact that NATO is not thinking about implementing basic principles of the European security, namely the indivisibility of security and the obligation not to ensure one's own security at the expense of others. This was a repetition of the same exercises that we heard at the times of the Cold war".
"What is NATO doing? What I heard today is a demonstration of the fact that NATO is not thinking about implementing basic principles of the European security, namely the indivisibility of security and the obligation not to ensure one's own security at the expense of others. This was a repetition of the same exercises that we heard at the times of the Cold war".
10 february 2016
1. Is it appropriate to talk about the revivial of the 'cold war' in Russia-NATO relations?
Alexander Grushko: It would be more correct to say that NATO tries to pull us into the state of the 'cold war', inflating the myth of the 'threat from the East' and justifying the need for 'deterring' Russia. They impose security schemes of the 'era of confrontation', molding the enemy image. Under this pretext, additional forces, logistics and armament are being deployed near our borders. The USA announced its intention to increase the budget with a view to strengthen its military presence in Europe by 4 times – up to 3.4 bln dollars.
Alexander Grushko: It would be more correct to say that NATO tries to pull us into the state of the 'cold war', inflating the myth of the 'threat from the East' and justifying the need for 'deterring' Russia. They impose security schemes of the 'era of confrontation', molding the enemy image. Under this pretext, additional forces, logistics and armament are being deployed near our borders. The USA announced its intention to increase the budget with a view to strengthen its military presence in Europe by 4 times – up to 3.4 bln dollars.
08 february 2016
NATO should change its policy as it is impossible to maintain a dialogue when your country is seen as a threat to security, which should be contained.
As a matter of fact, NATO has shot itself in the foot when it cut practical cooperation in the zones of common interest. And we see it now watching migration waves swamping Europe and the developments in the Middle East and North Africa.
Suspension by NATO of the project on joint training of antidrug officers for Afghanistan "endangers not only public security in Russia but also directly impacts Europe’s security.
As a matter of fact, NATO has shot itself in the foot when it cut practical cooperation in the zones of common interest. And we see it now watching migration waves swamping Europe and the developments in the Middle East and North Africa.
Suspension by NATO of the project on joint training of antidrug officers for Afghanistan "endangers not only public security in Russia but also directly impacts Europe’s security.
05 february 2016
Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov had a meeting with representatives of leading media agencies
Russian military department suggested its Western colleagues creating an advisory center in Amman (Jordan) in order to cooperate in Syria. The US refused. This was stated by Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov.
According to Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu suggested a telephone conversation with Ashton Carter. This happened on January 19. The Russian defence department was indicated that such conversation was not a rational one.
He also reminded that Russia had suggested the USA and the coalition a “broad cooperation”, which included sharing information about target location in Syria, establishing communication channels and joint operations aimed to rescue pilots in case of emergency.
According to Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu suggested a telephone conversation with Ashton Carter. This happened on January 19. The Russian defence department was indicated that such conversation was not a rational one.
He also reminded that Russia had suggested the USA and the coalition a “broad cooperation”, which included sharing information about target location in Syria, establishing communication channels and joint operations aimed to rescue pilots in case of emergency.
04 february 2016
It looks like the search campaigns for Russian submarines in the Swedish waters finally ran out of steam — new stories are needed. Such claims became traditional, particularly on the eve of high-level NATO events like now – right before Ministers’ of Defence meeting. This is part of the NATO aggressive propaganda campaign aimed at demonstrating that the Alliance is in need and justifying its policy of reconstructing «the iron curtain» in Europe, as well as the efforts by the Allies to increase their military capabilities and bring them closer to the Russian borders.
It is particularly strange to hear such claims when we do all possible to ensure transparency of our military activities. The military exercises are covered in the media; Russian Ministry of Defense holds special briefings, invites military attaches to attend, including from NATO countries.
It is particularly strange to hear such claims when we do all possible to ensure transparency of our military activities. The military exercises are covered in the media; Russian Ministry of Defense holds special briefings, invites military attaches to attend, including from NATO countries.
14 january 2016
Question: How could you comment on Western media reports that Russia’s updated National Security Strategy perceives NATO as a “threat” to Russian national security?
Maria Zakharova: These are unscrupulous speculations. It is our opinion that this amounts to attempts to deliberately distort the contents of the Russian Federation’s National Security Strategy and to exacerbate tensions in the already complicated Russia-NATO relations.
All one has to do is attentively read the text of this document in order to dismiss the above-mentioned allegations as groundless.
Maria Zakharova: These are unscrupulous speculations. It is our opinion that this amounts to attempts to deliberately distort the contents of the Russian Federation’s National Security Strategy and to exacerbate tensions in the already complicated Russia-NATO relations.
All one has to do is attentively read the text of this document in order to dismiss the above-mentioned allegations as groundless.
28 december 2015
The US general’s statements, made at a news conference on the results of 2015, confirm the US Defence Department’s previously announced plans to deploy and store military equipment on NATO’s eastern flank for conducting permanent exercises on a rotational basis. And we have repeatedly voiced our stance on this issue.
If these measures are implemented, it would be tantamount to violating the key provision of the 1997 Russia-NATO Founding Act, under which the alliance pledged not to deploy substantial armed forces in the above-mentioned countries on a permanent basis. Forward-based military equipment amounts precisely to a permanent military presence, and the formal rotation of military personnel due to use this equipment is irrelevant.
If these measures are implemented, it would be tantamount to violating the key provision of the 1997 Russia-NATO Founding Act, under which the alliance pledged not to deploy substantial armed forces in the above-mentioned countries on a permanent basis. Forward-based military equipment amounts precisely to a permanent military presence, and the formal rotation of military personnel due to use this equipment is irrelevant.
08 december 2015
Alexander Grushko: The NATO-Russia Council is convened if there is a consensus of its members. To create such a consensus, we need to hold consultations between all parties concerned. We are ready to discuss any issues related to the security of all NRC members. This mechanism was established with a view to discuss security issues of common concern, identify common threats and coordinate ways to counter them, including possible joint actions. That is why in the NRC we discussed the situation in Afghanistan and counter-terrorism, as they directly influence security interests of all members of the NRC. I do not rule out possible conversation on other issues related to the necessity to strengthen security in Europe, including in the light of the efforts taken by NATO Allies on the «eastern flank» and considering NATO commitments to show restraint in the deployment of forces in this region.
07 december 2015
Russian Ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko shared his assessments of the outcomes of NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting during a press conference with Rossiya Segodnya news agency.
04 december 2015
Russian Ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko about prospects for the resumption of dialogue within the NATO-Russia Council: "I don’t think any concrete steps on the part of NATO will follow soon".