Russia ready to break off relations with NATO – Medvedev

25 Aug, 2008 10:04 / Updated 16 years ago

President Medvedev has said that Russia is ready to break off its relations with NATO if necessary. His comments came after a meeting with Russia's ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, at the port of Sochi.

Dmitry Rogozin briefed Medvedev on NATO's attitude towards the current situation in South Ossetia. In his view they're applying a double standard as they're blaming Russia, although Georgia began the conflict. “We've been developing our relations with the North Atlantic Alliance for a long time. We would like these relations to be full-fledged and to be real partners, but we don't want any illusions of partnership. When we're being surrounded by military bases along our borders, and when more and more countries are being dragged into NATO, we certainly don't like it,” said Medvedev.