NEW YORK, September 26 (RIA Novosti) - NATO expansion in Eastern Europe is a 'mistake' and a "provocative move' that undermines the whole European security system, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.
"I believe that NATO expansion is a mistake. To a certain degree, it is certainly a provocation," Lavrov told reporters on the sidelines of the current UN General Assembly session in New York.
"It is an irresponsible policy that undermines commitments to build a common security system in Europe, based on equality of rights for all, regardless of alignment or non-alignment with any military-political bloc," Lavrov said.
Lavrov also insisted that Ukraine must keep its non-alignment status as it remains a key element ensuring the European security.