NATO has circulated a guideline limiting the number of staff in all 'partner delegations' to 30, citing the need to better manage relations with the expanding number of partner nations.
"This logic, along with attempts to give some sort of 'leveling' recommendations, cannot but raise a number of questions, especially in light of the fact that normal diplomatic practices do not impose any limitations on the number of staff at diplomatic missions," Grushko said in a written commentary to Russian reporters.
The Russian diplomat questioned whether NATO member states would cut down their presence in Moscow in return to the military alliance's request.
The alliance's official who confirmed the reduction request earlier in the day said each mission is free to choose which staff member to let go of and that "NATO will not select staff to leave or remain."
Moscow, in turn, has noted NATO's growing military presence in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states along Russia's doorstep, stressing its incursion further aggravates existing tensions and undermines regional security.