Russia warns of steps against NATO expansion

MOSCOW—Russia’s armed forces chief warned Friday that Georgia and Ukraine’s desire to join NATO will force Russia to take military steps, Russian news agencies reported.
“Russia will take action aimed at guaranteeing its interests close to its borders. It will not only be measures of a military character. There will be other measures,” General Yury Baluyevsky was quoted by Interfax and other agencies as saying, without specifying further.
Earlier this month, NATO turned down Georgia and Ukraine’s applications for Membership Action Plans — a stepping stone to membership — but did say both would eventually become NATO members.
Moscow sees the expansion of NATO and the deployment of a US anti-missile shield in central Europe as threats to Russian security.
President Vladimir Putin said in February that Russia would consider directing its missiles at Ukraine if the neighbouring state hosted missile defence facilities.
Baluyevsky said it was too early to talk about Ukrainian or Georgian entry into NATO. “The population of Ukraine is unambiguously against entry to NATO.

—Agencies