US missile shield in Europe triggers Euro-Atlantic crisis, warns top diplomat

MILAN, December 6. /TASS/. The deployment of US missile defense system to Europe and NATO’s eastward expansion have sparked a crisis of trust in the Euro-Atlantic Region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the 25th session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Foreign Ministers’ Council.

“NATO’s reckless expansion, the buildup of the alliance’s potential both on the so-called eastern flank and the deployment of the US missile defense system to Europe, and illegitimate sanctions under forged pretexts – all this has resulted in a crisis of trust in the Euro-Atlantic,” Lavrov said.

According to Russia’s top diplomat, a few countries, which seek to gain superiority, use the methods of blackmail, pressure, threats and even blatant interference in domestic affairs. “Backing a coup d’etat in Ukraine and unprecedented pressure on Macedonia are the brightest examples confirming this.”