"It's sad. These are two countries whose international reputation was largely based on the policy of military non-alignment, on respect for their contribution to the formation of collective principles in the area of European security, the development of documents in the field of military stability and transparency," he told TASS on Wednesday.

"They have always been an important platform for international dialogue," he added.

"Now they're becoming NATO's periphery, but that's their choice," the diplomat said.