Ryabkov questioned the reality of the US plans to withdraw from NATO

The rhetoric of the administration of US President Donald Trump about the possible withdrawal of the country from NATO is designed only to "spur" the members of the bloc and is unlikely to become reality. This opinion was expressed on March 31 by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in an interview with the International Life magazine.

"I think there is a certain amount of bravado in the rhetoric, in the vocabulary used by the current administration. I think this is an element of such a verbal whip, which can be used to spur the "NATO horse," he said.

According to the diplomat, the possible separation of the United States and NATO still looks like an unimaginable event. He noted that the bond of European and American elites has been developing for decades in all areas, including security.

"And just cut this umbilical cord and say, 'stop'? In my opinion, this is from the category of the impossible," Ryabkov stressed.

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister added that Washington is actively increasing its military spending and at the same time wants to achieve large defense allocations from NATO allies. Some of the US partners, who are aggressively opposed to Russia, are even ready to outstrip their patron's wishes and assume additional military obligations.

"But we remember how the increased socialist obligations were sometimes not fulfilled due to objective reasons. Let's see how this capitalist Komsomol from Brussels has enough momentum and enthusiasm to do everything," Ryabkov concluded.

Clan or Gone: The West forms new alliances within NATO

France is looking for allies for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine

Earlier in the day, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said he had not yet heard from American officials about Washington's plans to withdraw from NATO. At the same time, he noted that Trump is doing the right thing when he puts pressure on European states to increase their defense spending.