Russia vows to retaliate

MOSCOW: A new Nato plan to step up Russia’s combat readiness in Europe would worsen security on the continent and Moscow would factor it into its own military planning, the country said yesterday.

Last week, Western officials said the US was pressing its European allies to get more Nato battalions, ships and planes ready for combat, in a fresh move to shore up Nato’s deterrence against any Russian attack.

The Interfax new agency cited Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko as criticising the initiative.

It quoted him as saying Moscow would take all necessary military measures to guarantee its own security. – Reuters