The head of a foreign ministry department in charge of Russian relations with Europe Oleg Tyapkin said, on Saturday, that Moscow’s “response, as always, will be proportionate and appropriate,” adding that “any possible response would be intended to neutralize potential threats to the security of the Russian Federation.”

Tyapkin made the remarks a day after a meeting in Bucharest, Romania, where nine Central and Eastern European countries asked NATO to strengthen its eastern flank. 

It is worth noting that the event was attended by leaders from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.

Last week, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Poland will sign the largest contract in 30 years to supply almost $630 million worth of weapons to Ukraine.

Russia has long complained to the US about NATO's eastward expansion, stressing that Washington has ignored the Kremlin's concerns about the security of its western borders. 

On his account, NATO's Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoana stated last month that the alliance is no longer bound by previous commitments to refrain from deploying forces in Eastern Europe.

NATO has significantly increased its presence along its eastern border, with approximately 40,000 troops stationed from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

In addition, the alliance plans to deploy four new combat units in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.

Read more: WP: NATO had begun to supply Kiev with weapons in late 2021