Russia says will sever ties with NATO if Ukraine joins Atlantic bloc - agency

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday it would respond adequately by severing ties with NATO if Ukraine becomes a member of the Atlantic bloc.

"If this decision in the future takes on a military character (the accession to NATO), then we will respond adequately. Then there will be a complete severing of ties with NATO, which will be practically impossible to repair," Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.