The Kremlin on Tuesday accused NATO of treating Russia as an “enemy,” adding that it would closely monitor any decision taken at the alliance’s summit in Vilnius later this week, Reuters and Agerpres reported.

Earlier in the day, NATO’s secretary general sent a tongue-in-cheek message to President Vladimir Putin, saying the war he has launched in Ukraine has had the exact opposite effect he had hoped for in terms of expanding the alliance.

Moscow called NATO’s eastward expansion a key factor in the decision to invade Ukraine on February 24 last year.

“Russia is perceived by them (NATO leaders) as an enemy, an adversary. It is on this note that the (Vilnius) negotiations will take place,” Kremlin press secretary Dmytro Peskov said during the daily press conference on Thursday afternoon.

“We are watching this very closely because most of the things that will be said (at the NATO summit) will be subject to deep analysis in order to take measures to ensure our own security,” he added.

The Kremlin warns that Ukraine’s accession to NATO will be “very dangerous”

Peskov also said that Ukraine’s accelerated accession to NATO is very dangerous for European security, and Secretary General Stoltenberg said he expects member states to send Ukraine a “positive message” about its prospects for becoming a NATO member.

Before the start of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Stoltenberg proposed on Monday to drop the requirement for an Accession Action Plan (AAP) for Ukraine, which would allow him to shorten the accession process.

“This is very dangerous for European security. Indeed, it contains very big dangers, and those who will make the decision should be aware of it,” Peskov told reporters, answering the question of what the Kremlin’s reaction might be to the acceleration of Ukraine’s accession to NATO.

In addition, Sweden’s expected entry into the North Atlantic Alliance will have clear negative consequences for Russia’s security, the Kremlin spokesman noted in this context, adding that Moscow will respond with measures similar to those taken after Finland joined the Western military alliance in April.

Russia condemns France’s decision to supply Kyiv with long-range missiles

At his daily news conference, Peskov downplayed Turkey’s decision to drop its opposition to Sweden’s NATO membership, saying Ankara clearly had obligations as a member of the alliance and Moscow had never been under any illusions about that.

Peskov noted that there are certain differences between Russia and Turkey, but also a number of common interests, stressing that Moscow intends to further develop relations with Ankara.

At the same time, the Kremlin spokesman said that France’s supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine is a mistake that will have consequences for Kyiv. According to him, Russia will have to determine the exact range of the missiles.

In a separate statement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia is taking “appropriate” and timely measures in response to the possible accession of Sweden and Ukraine to NATO.

Follow the latest events of the 503rd day of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HOTNEWS.RO.