Russia: NATO peacekeeper aid on hold

MOSCOW, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- A Russian envoy has confirmed that Russia won't take part in any NATO peacekeeping operations for the next six months.

Envoy Dmitry Rogozin said that due to the lack of support for Russia's military actions in areas such as South Ossetia, his country has decided to suspend its international peacekeeping operations for a minimum of half a year, RIA Novosti said.

ITAR-Tass said the envoy's comments came a day after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hinted at the possibility of ending NATO relations after the international organization opposed his country's involvement in the South Ossetia and Georgia conflict.

"We are ready to make any decision, even on the termination of the relations as a whole," Medvedev said Monday.

PRIME-Tass said Medvedev slammed NATO for encroaching on his country's borders through its newest members despite their condemnation of Russian military efforts.

"We'd like to have a full-fledged relationship and partnership but we don't need the illusion (of a partnership), when we're being surrounded with (military) bases and when more and more countries are being included in the North Atlantic alliance," the president said.