He noted that such actions by the North Atlantic Alliance will inevitably lead to a deterioration in regional security and this "will significantly complicate the situation in northern Europe."
“This will most seriously worsen the military situation in the Baltic Sea region,” RIA Novosti quotes him.
Grushko added that as a result, this region from the most militarily calm in Europe will be turned into an arena of military rivalry.
The Deputy Foreign Minister also said that NATO made a bid to confront and contain Russia on all fronts, recognizing the Russian side as a threat to the alliance.
On June 29, the leaders of the member countries of the alliance decided to invite Sweden and Finland to become members of the military association.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the signing of a protocol on the accession of Sweden and Finland to the alliance on July 5.