Moscow: Russia plans to stop diplomatic involvement with the Organization of the North Atlantic Agreement (NATO), Russian Foreign Minister said on Monday, in the latest signs of assorted relationships between Moscow and West.
Although significant at the diplomatic level, the announcement did not seem to be accompanied by a military movement by Russia threatening European security.
And Moscow still maintains diplomatic relations with each government in the Alliance.
The decision will end the post-cold war trial, it was never very successful, in building trust between Russia and the Western alliance, establishing the past decade to contain the Soviet Union, which officials in Moscow were accused of being accused of being used in the former Soviet region.
At the beginning of next month, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia would stop his representative office at NATO headquarters in Brussels and attract diplomatic credentials from the envoy of alliances working in Moscow.
NATO response was muted.
“We have recorded the comments of Minister of Lavrov to the media, but we have not received official communication about the problems he lifted,” said a spokesman, Oana Lungescu.
Lavrov said the alliance was informed before the announcement.
Breakoffs from diplomatic bonds also came as President Joe Biden tried to strengthen the European Alliance after former President Donald Trump demeaned members as a freeouders on US military spending.
The relationship between Moscow and the West has been tense for years, but the direct encouragement for Russian steps is a spy scandal.
Earlier this month, NATO ordered eight Russian diplomats to leave Belgium on November 1, said they were unnecessary intelligence officers.
The Alliance also reduced the size of the Russian representative office.
In response, Lavrov said all Russian diplomatic missions would leave on November 1.
NATO can still deliver diplomatic messages to the Russian embassy in Brussels, if necessary, said Lavrov.