Russia and NATO are moving closer to a direct military clash with each passing day, said Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s permanent representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

“A direct military clash between Russia and NATO has not yet occurred, although we are moving closer to that point every day,” he told a regular meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council. TASS has obtained the text of his remarks.

He also commented on the alliance’s plans to allow Kiev to purchase weapons directly through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). “The alliance, which insists at every opportunity that it is not a party to the conflict, is becoming an official arms store for Kiev,” he noted.