The North Atlantic Alliance is actually preparing for a conflict with Russia, said Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the European Affairs Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, in an interview with TASS, BTA reports.
The diplomat was asked whether a dialogue between Russia and NATO is possible now or in the future.
"Currently, Russia is defined as "the most significant and direct threat to security" in all doctrinal documents of the North Atlantic Alliance. It is emphasized that it will remain so in the long term, even in the event of a resolution of the Ukrainian conflict," he replied.
"Based on this, NATO is actually preparing for a possible conflict with Russia: it is increasing military spending, increasing its potential along the perimeter of our borders, deploying new missions and operations in Eastern Europe," Maslennikov explained.
TASS recalls that in an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" newspaper on November 15, 2025, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius suggested that a war between Russia and NATO could break out by 2029.