NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alexander Vershbow says the alliance must now start considering Russia as an adversary.
Vershbow said on May 1 in Washington that despite trying for some 20 years to build a partnership with Russia, Moscow has "declared NATO as an adversary."
Because of that, he says NATO must now also "begin to view Russia now longer as a partner but as more of an adversary."
Vershbow, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and to NATO, Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and involvement in the separatist movement in eastern Ukraine have changed the NATO-Russia relationship.
He said Russia is clearly "trying to re-impose hegemony and limit [the]...sovereignty [of Russia's neighbors] under the guise of a defense of the Russian world."
NATO suspended most of its civilian and military cooperation with Russia in April after the annexation of Crimea.
Vershbow said on May 1 in Washington that despite trying for some 20 years to build a partnership with Russia, Moscow has "declared NATO as an adversary."
Because of that, he says NATO must now also "begin to view Russia now longer as a partner but as more of an adversary."
Vershbow, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and to NATO, Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and involvement in the separatist movement in eastern Ukraine have changed the NATO-Russia relationship.
He said Russia is clearly "trying to re-impose hegemony and limit [the]...sovereignty [of Russia's neighbors] under the guise of a defense of the Russian world."
NATO suspended most of its civilian and military cooperation with Russia in April after the annexation of Crimea.
