MOSCOW (Sputnik) – He underscored Moscow's interest in joint work on military and political security in the Euro-Atlantic area on the principle of mutual equality.
"NATO activity on our borders does not contribute to interaction. I want to emphasize in this regard that Russia will always be able to protect its interests, to ensure the safety of its citizens," Lavrov said at a press conference with his Portuguese counterpart.
Since 2014, the alliance has been building up its military presence in Europe, especially in Eastern European countries neighboring Russia, using Moscow's alleged interference in the Ukrainian conflict as a pretext. The Russian authorities have said such moves undermine stability.