German Foreign Ministry talks about the decision to close NATO information office in Russia

Russia's response

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Russia's retaliatory measures for the expulsion of diplomats from NATO: in addition to suspending the work of the NATO military liaison mission in Moscow, the organization's information office will also be closed.

Russian Foreign Minister speaks about the decision to close the NATO office.

The Russian Permanent Mission to NATO will also suspend its work from November 1 or a little later. For contacts with Russia, the alliance must now work with the Russian embassy in Belgium.

"Russia is not ready for dialogue"

"This makes things more difficult, and the situation was already complicated," Maas told reporters after a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

He noted that Germany in NATO supports dialogue with Russia, and also reiterated that the Alliance confirms its readiness for dialogue, calling for the creation of a NATO-Russia Council.

NATO logo at the entrance to NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Reuters

“We are ready for dialogue, but we have to take into account the fact that Russia is not yet ready,” Maas said.

The Foreign Minister noted that Moscow's decision "will prolong the ice age" in relations between Russia and NATO. He noted that because NATO deals with security issues, Russia's decision is "very inappropriate" and will "seriously complicate" relations./.