Unacceptable for NATO member troops to be in Ukraine, says Russia

'The expansion of NATO, 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', said minister Sergei Lavrov.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

Credit: Reuters Photo 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that NATO membership for Ukraine was unacceptable as was the appearance of NATO member troops - even if they were operating there under a different flag.

"We explained to our colleagues today what President (Vladimir) Putin has repeatedly stressed: that the expansion of NATO, 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 to us."