Moscow: Russia is unlikely to return the mission at NATO in Brussels, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said during a discussion at the Valdai Club.
“Everything is developing in such a way that we are unlikely to return there,” he replied to the host’s question whether Russia would return to Brussels.
A signal was sent to Moscow that the NATO mission would not have a normal diplomatic life, Russia was left with no choice, Grushko said.
“When the signal was sent to Russia that the diplomatic presence here is absolutely inappropriate, that there would be no normal diplomatic life, we were left with no other decision than the decision that was made. It was the only possible one,” the deputy foreign minister said.
To restore dialogue with Russia, fundamental shifts must take place in NATO policy, Grushko said.
“For opportunities to restore normal dialogue to appear, fundamental shifts must take place within NATO itself in the Russian direction, both in terms of military planning and in terms of politics,” he said.