Russia is suspending its permanent mission to NATO in response to the alliance’s expulsion of eight Russians, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, writes CNN.

Lavrov said the Kremlin’s move - which could come into effect as early as November 1 - was a result of “NATO’s actions”.

Russia is also suspending the activities of the NATO military liaison mission in Moscow, Lavrov said, with staff accreditation to be withdrawn on November 1.

The NATO information bureau in Moscow, which was established at the Belgian embassy to explain the role of NATO and NATO policies to the Russian public, will also be terminated, he said.

“NATO is not interested in any equal dialogue or in any joint work. If so, then we do not see much need to continue to pretend that some change is possible in the foreseeable future. NATO has already in fact declared the impossibility of such changes”, - Lavrov said.