You're reading: Reuters: Russia complains Macedonia being sucked into NATO by force

Reuters: Russia complains Macedonia being sucked into NATO by force

Published July 12, 2018 at 8:14 pm

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev (R) and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hold a joint press conference on January 18, 2018 following their meeting in Skopje.NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg urged Macedonia on January 18 to keep up newfound momentum towards solving a 27-year-old dispute with Greece over its name, a key condition for joining the alliance. / AFP PHOTO / Robert ATANASOVSKI

Photo by AFP

The Russian Foreign Ministry complained on July 12 that Macedonia was being sucked into the NATO military alliance by force, saying such moves deepened divisions and increased tensions in Europe.

NATO leaders agreed on July 11 to invite Macedonia to begin accession talks to join the Western alliance, extending its reach in the Balkans in defiance of Russia following a landmark accord with Greece over the ex-Yugoslav republic’s name.