He stated that the decision of the Atlantic Alliance to expel eight Russian representatives to that military bloc and their accusations of ‘hostile activities’ completely compromise the prospects of normalizing relations.

Peskov considered that there is an obvious contradiction in NATO’s statements about its will to improve ties with Moscow.

‘These actions do not allow us to have any hopes about the possibility of normalizing relations’, Peskov said. He added that rather than improving conditions, ‘they undermine such prospects almost completely’, Sputnik news agency reported.

On the subject, vice chairman of the International Affairs committee of the Russian Federation Council (Senate), Vladimir Dzhabárov, declared that the country could reduce to a minimum the NATO representation in Moscow as response.

‘NATO has its representation in Moscow, there are several officers there. We will respond appropriately. The Russian side has the full right to minimize its mission’, he told Russia 24 television channel. According to the senator, relations between the parties are undergoing a cold period.

pgh/lcr