Cold War revisited? Russia fires back at NATO summit decisions

The NATO summit, recently concluded in Lithuania, has stirred up an unfavorable response from Russia with its Foreign Ministry expressing discontent with the Western alliance, likening its approach to “Cold War schemes.”

The ministry also underscored that Russia is ready to counter any perceived threats with all possible means, a statement that came shortly after the United States and its allies offered increased security support to Ukraine against Moscow’s aggression.

In a late-night statement issued following the summit, the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated its intention to meticulously analyse the outcomes of the Vilnius Summit. The ministry declared that Russia will act timely and appropriately, deploying all available means and methods to address any identified challenges and threats to its security and interests.

The Russian ministry also critiqued NATO for its inability to adapt to the current geopolitical situation, accusing the alliance of lowering the threshold for force use and escalating political and military tensions.

NATO summit in Lithuania receives backlash from Russia, Kremlin ready to respond. Photo courtesy of LENA15 from Pixabay.

Russia alleged that NATO was protracting the Ukraine conflict, claiming that the alliance committed to supplying Ukraine with progressively advanced and long-range weapons. This move, the Russian ministry said, was intended to prolong the conflict to a point of exhaustion. The ministry also expressed Russia’s plans to bolster its military and defense system based on previous decisions.

On the same day, US President Joe Biden censured Russian President Vladimir Putin, blaming him for possessing a “greedy desire for land and power.” Biden lauded NATO’s solidarity and its support to Ukraine amid Russian aggression.

One of the critical outcomes of the NATO summit was the approval of Sweden‘s potential inclusion in the military alliance. In an unexpected turn of events, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan consented to Sweden’s NATO membership bid, opening doors for its accession. However, no definitive timeline was provided for Ukraine’s NATO membership, as leaders declared it infeasible amid the ongoing war.