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Gorbachev, who played a key part in deescalating tensions between the Soviet Union and the West in the 1980s and eventually withdrew soviet troops from eastern Europe, was commenting on the two-day NATO summit in the Polish capital. Ironically, the city once lent its name to NATO's communist counterpart, the Warsaw Pact, but has now seen leaders of the US-led alliance negotiating increased pressure on Russia.
In its final communique NATO accused Russia of "provocative military activities in the periphery of NATO territory" and "willingness to attain political goals by the threat and use of force". The alliance said Moscow's actions "are a source of regional instability, fundamentally challenge the alliance, have damaged Euro-Atlantic security, and threaten our long-standing goal of a Europe whole, free, and at peace."
The key result of the Warsaw summit was the long-promised deployment of additional NATO troops at Russia's border, namely in host nation Poland and the Baltic States. NATO claims that the deployment is necessary to prevent a possible attack from Russia and reassure the eastern European nations that other members are committed to defend them.
Comment: Old saying: If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck...it is likely a duck. NATO's actions speak the loudest, given the current potential for intended (or even accidental) annihilation. We already have millions of people who are the victims of war, terror, devastation...we need more? That NATO is setting up Russia, goading it to the brink of military confrontation, is unconscionable. Are we past the point of no return? Clearly NATO is past the point of sanity.