The Kremlin said on Wednesday that reports that NATO planned to increase its defence spending showed Moscow was right to be concerned over what it said was the military alliance's eastward expansion and policy of trying to contain Russia.
"We see that NATO carries out actions aimed at containment and expansion with regards our country. This can only prompt our concern," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that NATO's expansion and beefing up of its military infrastructure near Russia's borders threatens the nation's security.
Peskov said, however, that Russia will not get involved "in an arms race or in a spending race" with NATO as it would be detrimental to the country's economy.
"Putin repeatedly pointed out that we are operating in a different way," he said
KREMLIN CALLS FOR EUROPE TO BE PART OF ANY NEW MISSILE TREATY
The Kremlin also called on Western European countries to get involved in talks about a new nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States following the demise of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow supported a comment made by French President Emmanuel Macron saying that Western European countries should be involved in the talks.
