Alexander Grushko

Finland is poised to join NATO on Tuesday, a historic realignment brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but the head of the military alliance said it would not send more troops to the Nordic country unless it asked for help.

Russia has condemned the US decision to send additional troops to Europe in support of NATO allies.

Washington's decision is a "destructive and unjustified step" and will only increase tensions in the region, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko.

The United States has offered Russia an Exchange of Information on Missiles

The United States on Wednesday deployed several thousand troops to bolster NATO forces in eastern Europe, as the leaders of France and Germany flagged trips to Moscow to address Western fears of an invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has urged Greece and Turkey to engage in dialogue over their maritime disputes, while recognizing the right of states to determine their territorial waters and exclusive economic zones (EEZ) under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Russian Foreign Ministry did not comment on Bulgaria's refusal to issue a visa to the military attaché to the Russian embassy in Sofia, said ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova. Moscow will act in accordance with the principle of reciprocity in diplomacy, RIA Novosti reported.

Russia Tuesday dismissed Greece's accusation that it was meddling in its internal affairs but insisted it will express its opinion about the Prespes agreement to the United Nations Security Council.

Russia has warned FYROM (Macedonia) of the negative consequences of its accession to NATO for regional security and bilateral relations, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday following a meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko and Macedonian Ambassador to Russia Goce Karajanov.

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko and Bulgarian Ambassador to Moscow Boyko Kotsev discussed cooperation between the two countries and Russia's relations with the EU and NATO.

Moscow is worried about Washington's plans to increase US military spending within NATO by 40 percent, Russia's envoy to NATO Alexander Grushko said Thursday.

Proposed 2018 US federal budget envisions an increase of $1.4 billion in defense spending in Europe.

The Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to NATO Alexander Grushko has criticised the recent agreement signed between Poland and the USA for the purchase of long-range ballistic missiles, reported Radio Poland, cited by Focus agency.