State Duma suggests countermeasures in response to NATO inviting Montenegro to join it

Russia could stop cooperating with the United States in supplying titanium and exit the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) as response measures to NATO activation, first deputy head of the Russian State Duma international affairs committee Leonid Kalashnikov told Interfax on Monday.

"NATO is in a hurry to take Montenegro as a member, in particular, in order to shield completely this country from the influence of Serbia, whose part it was," Kalashnikov said.

In order to respond to NATO activation, "sometimes it is necessary to make decisions in spheres, which are substantial in our relations with America, for example, exit the START," he said.

"It is also possible to stop cooperating in titanium supplies to the U.S., this is essential, and Americans fear this catastrophically. The same goes for rockets, the U.S. buzzes for a reason over 40 rockets which, as [Russian President] Vladimir Putin said, would be supplied to our inventory by late 2015," Kalashnikov said.

According to the deputy, "it is time to restrict nuclear control measures as well - the enemy can not walk over our nuclear spots."

During the Global Security Forum (GLOBSEC) in Bratislava, Montenegro was sent a clear signal - namely that it will be the next NATO member, the Kommersant daily reported on Monday.

There is a strong case for Montenegro to become the next NATO member state, British Prime Minister David Cameron said.

Montenegro will get the invitation for sure, Slovak Representative to NATO Tomas Valasek said.

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