Putin vows to react proportionally to relevant NATO moves

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia will respond proportionally to moves by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that pose a direct threat to it.

Russia will also resist NATO's attempt to expand, including inclusion of Russia's neighbors Georgia and Ukraine in the "military orbit" of the US-led alliance, Putin said at a conference of Russian ambassadors.

"One should think about the possible consequences of such irresponsible policies," he said.

Russia and NATO need a new positive work agenda aimed at "finding common ground" rather than confrontation, Putin said.

"The key to ensuring security and stability in Europe is precisely expanding cooperation and restoring confidence, instead of NATO deploying new bases and building military infrastructure near Russian borders, which is happening now," Putin said.

Moscow has regularly accused NATO of boosting its military presence in Eastern Europe, including increasing military contingents in the Baltic states, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria using fears for possible Russian aggression as a pretext.

Russia has also complained that NATO is actively improving its transport infrastructure and deploying missile defense systems in the region.

Earlier this month, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference that the alliance continued to prepare Ukraine and Georgia for their NATO memberships.