Relations between Russia and NATO are deteriorating, but Moscow has no intention of entering into a conflict with a NATO country, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said on Thursday in an interview quoted by "Reuters".
In remarks to mark NATO's 75th anniversary, Grushko told Russia's state news agency RIA that relations were deteriorating "predictably and deliberately" and all channels of dialogue between Moscow and the Alliance have been brought to "critical zero" level from Washington and Brussels.
"Is the military bloc ready for an open conflict with Russia? That is something you should ask NATO members themselves. In any case, we have no such intentions regarding the member countries of the Alliance", said Grushko.
President Vladimir Putin launched what he called his "special military operation" in Ukraine in 2022 with the stated aim of preventing NATO from expanding its presence near Russia. But the war served to boost the Alliance, which expanded to 32 members through the admission of Finland and Sweden.
NATO says it is helping Ukraine fight for its survival in the face of Russian aggression and has provided Kiev with advanced weapons, training and intelligence.
Russia claims that this de facto makes NATO a party to the conflict. Putin said in February that a direct conflict between Russia and NATO would mean the planet is one step away from World War III.