President Putin's deputy foreign minister confirmed Moscow would respond to NATO drills (Image: GETTY)
The country’s deputy foreign minister, Alexander Grushko, slammed the military alliance for its movements in the strategic region saying they would “undermine stability. His comments come as five NATO ships took part in Sea Shield 2019, an annual Romanian-led naval exercise in the Black Sea. When questioned on how Moscow views the military conglomerate’s build-up in the region, he responded: “Definitely negative”.
The state-controlled Tass news agency quoted Mr Grushko, 63, saying: "Their activities in the Black Sea region cannot add security, they are just undermining regional stability.
“We will definitely take every precaution to neutralise the threats related to increased NATO activity in that region.”
Mr Grushko was speaking to reporters at the 27th assembly of the council on foreign and defence policy.
The politician was last year dismissed by President Putin from his post as ambassador to NATO and appointed as deputy foreign minister. No reason was given for the move.
