The Kremlin suspended its mission at NATO on Monday, in retaliation for the Western alliance expelling eight Russian diplomats over spying allegations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said NATO’s military liaison and information offices in Moscow will be closed.
“If NATO members have any urgent matters, they can contact our ambassador in Belgium on these questions,” Lavrov said.
He went on to say that NATO “isn’t interested in any kind of equal dialogue or joint work” and doesn’t expect that to change in the “foreseeable future.”
“As a result of NATO’s deliberate moves, we have practically no conditions for elementary diplomatic work and in response to NATO’s actions we suspend the work of our permanent mission to NATO, including the work of the chief military envoy, probably from Nov. 1. Or it may take several more days,” Lavrov said.
Earlier this month, NATO booted eight members of the Russian mission in Brussels that it alleges were “undeclared Russian intelligence officers.”
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Russia is no longer interested in talking to the West.
“It’s more than just regrettable, this decision taken in Moscow,” he said. “It will seriously damage the relationship.”
Ties between NATO and Russia have been tense since Moscow illegally annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.
NATO condemned Russia’s actions and demanded the Kremlin return the territory.
“There can be no return to ’business as usual’ until there is a clear, constructive change in Russia’s actions that demonstrates compliance with international law and its international obligations and responsibilities,” NATO said in a statement in 2019, marking the fifth anniversary of the annexation.
With Post wires