Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Ukraine's membership in NATO is unacceptable, as is the presence of NATO troops there - even if they operate under a different flag.
"We explained to our colleagues today what President (Vladimir) Putin has repeatedly emphasized: that NATO expansion, the absorption of Ukraine by the North Atlantic Alliance, is a direct threat to the interests of the Russian Federation, a direct threat to our sovereignty," Lavrov said.
"We explained today that the appearance of armed forces from the same NATO countries, but under a false flag, under the flag of the European Union or under national flags, does not change anything in this regard. Of course, this is unacceptable for us," said the head of Russian diplomacy.
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