Russia will respond pragmatically to NATO expansion - Lavrov

Russia will offer a pragmatic response to NATO`s possible eastward expansion, the Foreign Minister said Wednesday as the alliance is due to discuss setting Ukraine and Georgia on the path to membership, RIA Novosti report.

U.S. President George W. Bush urged his European allies in Bucharest, Romania, earlier on Wednesday to meet the request of the ex-Soviet republics to join the program paving the way to membership.

"This will not be unanswered. But we will respond in a pragmatic way, not like little school boys who were hurt and fled their classroom slamming the door to weep in a solitary place," Sergei Lavrov said.

"We are prepared for various scenarios," he added.