However, the first country ofthe former Soviet bloc tojoin NATO was de facto the German Democratic Republic in1990. By agreeing tothe reunification ofGermany, Moscow secured commitment that the West would not deploy troops onthe territory ofthe former East Germany and NATO would not expand tothe east.

Then-German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher assured his Soviet counterpart Eduard Shevardnadze: "For us, it stands firm: NATO will not expand itself tothe East."

AFP 2017/ JANEK SKARZYNSKI

Meanwhile, inthe first half ofthe 1990s, the United States and the European Union were inno haste toadmit the three former Socialist countries intothe alliance. However, finally a way intoNATO forthem was opened.

In 1997, six years afterthe dissolution ofthe Warsaw Treaty Organization, then-NATO Secretary General Javier Solana announced that the alliance decided toinvite Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary toadmission talks.

Madeleine Albright, NATO and Eastern Europe

Many Russian political analysts agree that American politician and diplomat Madeleine Albright played a key role inthe integration ofthe former Warsaw Treaty countries intoNATO.

In 1993, Albright became Washingtons Ambassador tothe UN and in1997 she was appointed asSecretary ofState.

Speaking inthe Senate inApril 1997, Albright said: "Russia would likeus tomake absolute commitments aboutthe deployment ofnuclear and conventional forces onthe territories ofnew members. But we will not compromise onthis issue," Albright said.

The State Secretary noted that the US did not plan todeploy nuclear weapons toprotect Eastern Europe. She added that NATO would not permanently station "substantial combat forces" inthe region.

First Expansion

In the second half ofthe 1990s, relations betweenRussia and the West were relatively warm and Moscow did not regard the NATO enlargement asa direct military threat. In 1998, then-Russian Foreign Minister Evgeniy Primakov said it was rather a psychological problem.

"There are some real issues, and there is also the psychological factor. It should be considered. Russia is underpressure because the alliance is expanding and nearing our borders. At the same time, the Founding Act onRussia-NATO ties helped ease tensions," Primakov said.

Moscow was concerned overthe pace ofthe NATO expansion. In fact, the admission ofPoland, the Czech Republic and Hungary was fast-tracked.

What is more, the fast pace ofintegration was dictated bythe upcoming military operation inYugoslavia. The first bombs were dropped onMarch 24, 1999, just 12 days afterPoland, the Czech Republic and Hungary became NATO members.

Moscow was outraged withNATOs intervention ofYugoslavia. Foreign Minister Primakovs plane made the famous U-turn overthe Atlantic, marking the beginning ofa new stage inRussia-NATO relations.

Bargaining Chip

In Russia, there is a common notion that NATO is a monolith organization. In fact, there have always been differences withinthe alliance. During the Cold War, its unanimity was cemented withthe "Communist threat." But afterthe Soviet bloc collapsed, NATOs unity shattered.

Sputnik/ Sergei Guneev

In the mid-2000s, Warsaw and Prague turned a blind eye onmass protests and agreed onthe deployment ofcomponents ofthe US global missile shield. Launched in2001 byPresident George W. Bush, the initiative was regarded asa threat byMoscow.

Finally, the efforts ofthe Polish and Czech government toprove their loyalty toWashington backfired. In 2009, Barack Obama became US President and adjusted the strategy towardsWashingtons allies inEastern Europe, thus, showing their real role inUS foreign policy.

"The Russia connection is simply that we're working and indeed, a number ofcountries incentral Europe are working toreset the relationship withRussia," US National Security Advisor Antony Blinken said in2009.

Thus, Washington indicated that Poland, the Czech Republic and other former Warsaw Treaty states were just a bargaining chip inUS-Russia relations.

Disputes Over Russia

Oddly enough, NATOs unity has been further undermined bythe situation aroundRussia. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Bulgaria do not want a confrontation betweenthe West and Moscow.

Moreover, Czech President Milos Zeman has repeatedly called forthe removal ofanti-Russian sanctions and underscored the importance ofdialogue withMoscow.

New Bulgarian President Rumen Radev is also known asa vocal critic ofthe Western anti-Russian approach. Despite the fact that Radev is pro-European and pro-NATO, he insists that West-Russia ties cannot be based onconfrontation.

"Bulgaria is a loyal member ofNATO and the EU. Historically and culturally, Bulgaria has always been a European country. It has chosen a stable and unswerving path ofpro-European development. We shall not stray fromit. We want toassert ourselves asa most reliable NATO partner. But that does not mean we have tobe an enemy toRussia, a country we have important economic interests with," Radev said inan interview withLe Monde inDecember.

In an interview withRT, Ivan Konovalov, a senior analyst atthe Russia Institute forStrategic Studies, noted that NATO has found itself ina stalemate.

"Western Europe and the US do not want tosponsor Eastern Europe, and Eastern Europe does not have money torestore its defense capabilities. The situation is further complicated withcalls toend confrontation withRussia," Konovalov said.

The expert suggested that Eastern European states have not gained their desired benefits fromNATO integration.

"The armed forces offormer Warsaw Treaty members are indecay. Their Soviet-made military hardware is poorly maintained, and they do not receive new equipment. Moreover, they cannot cooperate withRussia, they do not wage wars. So, it is unclear what is the reason forthem tobe inNATO," Konovalov said.

Read more:

Shattered Alliance: Unpleasant Legacy of NATO's Fast-Tracked Expansion in Europe - Sputnik International