MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The deployment of four NATO battalions in Eastern Europe is a new step toward the deterioration of the regional security, Russia's envoy to NATO Alexander Grushko said Tuesday.
Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States were preparing to deploy four battalions of about 4,000 troops in the Baltics to counteract the perceived Russian threat.
"This is a new step for the deterioration of the security level in Europe and the deterioration of the regional security," Grushko said during a Moscow-Brussels video linkup when asked to comment on the potential deployment of the NATO battalions.
Since 2014, the alliance has been building up its military presence in Europe, especially in Eastern European countries neighboring Russia, using alleged Russian interference in the eastern Ukraine conflict as a pretext.
Russia has many times warned NATO that its provocative actions may harm regional and global stability.
