Diplomatic dialogue between Russia and Montenegro has been almost completely frozen, Russian Ambassador to Montenegro Alexander Lukashik said.

The diplomat said that the situation is linked to Montenegro’s pro-Western foreign policy, nsn.fm reports.

Lukashik cited Montenegro’s membership in NATO and what he described as its “unconditional desire to keep in step with the EU bureaucracy” among the factors contributing to the freeze in bilateral relations.

Despite the strained ties, the two countries maintain occasional contacts to address certain urgent practical issues, the ambassador said.

Earlier, Lukashik said Montenegro planned to join the European Union in 2028, highlighting Podgorica’s continued pursuit of closer integration with the bloc.