Russia has always stood for the development of relations with NATO, despite the aggression of this military-political bloc, but all efforts were in vain, and therefore Moscow has refused to collaborate. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this commenting on Russia suspending its permanent mission to NATO, RIA Novosti reported.

"It is also important to note that, despite the aggression of this bloc, Russia has always stood for the development of relations. Only now, when it is already apparent that all our efforts were in vain, we have just officially done what was real," Peskov said on the air of Russia-1 television.

NATO considers Russia its adversary, so the rejection of relations with this organization is not terrible, Peskov added.

"NATO is an aggressive alliance that considers us [i.e., Russia] an adversary. So, nothing terrible will happen if we simply give up these relations amid escalating aggression, amid such declarations that the main task is to restrain us," said the Russian presidential spokesman.