Kremlin says Russia to "vigilantly monitor" NATO summit

The Kremlin has announced its intent to closely monitor the upcoming NATO summit in Washington.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Moscow will scrutinize the summit's statements and decisions closely, given NATO's adversarial stance towards Russia and its involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"As closely as possible, we will monitor it," Peskov stated.

He highlighted NATO's view of Russia as an adversary, its declared aim of achieving a strategic defeat against Russia, and its direct involvement in the Ukrainian conflict alongside Ukraine.

Peskov underscored that Moscow will keenly observe the negotiations and closely analyze the outcomes and decisions emerging from the summit.

The 2024 NATO summit in Washington, DC, scheduled from July 9-11, 2024, will convene heads of state and government from the organization's 32 member countries, along with their partners and representatives from the European Union (EU).

This summit commemorates the 75th anniversary of NATO, established on April 4, 1949, with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, DC. It will be the fourth NATO summit hosted in the United States, following those in 1978, 1999, and 2012, and marks the last summit under Jens Stoltenberg's tenure as Secretary General, coinciding with Sweden's recent accession to NATO.

Themed "Ukraine and Transatlantic Security," the summit will focus on NATO's response to global threats to peace and democracy, particularly Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's support for Russia through arms supplies and troop deployments to Ukraine. Additionally, discussions will centre on enhancing defence capabilities, bolstering military readiness, and reaffirming the allies' commitment to the defence of NATO territory.