Russia blasts NATO for Cold War mentality

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov speaks during a news briefing on the sidelines of the Russia-ASEAN summit in Sochi, Russia, May 19, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]?

MOSCOW - The Kremlin on Monday slammed recent remarks by the NATO leadership, saying they are similar to those in the time of the Cold War.

"Judging from the rhetoric, it is rapidly returning to the very time that we thought is already well behind," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a news briefing.

NATO was an alliance created for confrontation, said Peskov, therefore its capacity to contribute to ensuring stability and security in Europe was disputable.

He added that Russia would have to take "a series of predictable, systematic and consecutive steps" in response to NATO's expansion around its borders.

On Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance has decided to increase its forward presence in its Eastern part by placing troops in different countries.

"Our approach to Russia combines strong defense and deterrence with dialogue," Stoltenberg said.

The Kremlin said Friday that it was concerned about the signing by NATO foreign ministers and Montenegro of an accession protocol, which allows the Balkan country to participate as an observer in NATO meetings.

The protocol signed Thursday has to be ratified by the parliaments of all NATO member states before Montenegro becomes the 29th member of the military bloc.