The Kremlin condemned the invitation to Montenegro to join NATO on Friday, arguing the step risked fueling geopolitical tensions in Europe, Euronews has learnt.
Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov said at a media conference: "In general, our stance is that NATO's further expansion is a negative process."
"This process yields nothing from the point of view of European security, " he stressed, adding: "On the contrary, this process risks further increasing tensions on the continent."
NATO formally made an invitation to Montenegro to become its 29th member on Thursday.
However, the decision still needs to be approved by the US Senate, as well as the Alliance's 27 other parliaments and Montenegro's own parliament.