The Kremlin announced that it is closely monitoring the NATO summit in Vilnius, denouncing its “anti-Russian character”, while stressing that it will take measures to protect Russia’s security.

“This is undoubtedly a meeting of the Alliance with a strong anti-Russian character. Russia is considered an enemy, an adversary, and the talks will be held in that lightKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

At the same time, Peskov estimated that European leaders do not seem to understand that moving NATO infrastructure closer to Russia’s borders is a mistake. He emphasized that the Alliance’s expansion into central and eastern Europe was what led to the current crisis in Ukraine.

Regarding Sweden’s accession to NATO Moscow indicated that it would have “clearly negative effects” for its security and added that it will respond with corresponding measures, such as those taken after Finland joined the Alliance.

However, Peskov downplayed Turkey’s decision to lift its objections to Sweden’s NATO membership, pointing out that Ankara has obligations as a member of the Alliance and that Moscow is under no illusions about this.

According to the Kremlin, Russia and Turkey have their differences but also share common interests, while Moscow intends to further strengthen its relations with Ankara.

At the same time, the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine by France is a “mistake”, as noted by the Kremlin representative, which will force Russia to take “countermeasures”.

“From our point of view it is a wrong decision, which will have serious consequences for the Ukrainian side, because of course it will force us to take countermeasures,” Peskov underlined.