To the contrary, Moscow was repeatedly told by the West that it would be accepted as an equal and genuine partner, and that no major decision on international security would be made without it. Well, the NATO summit in Madrid came as a clear manifestation that such decisions may and will be made and that Russia's opinion really matters only so long as it is in line with Western position. It's not that Russians are against NATO as it is, but they would prefer this great military alliance to find other functions, rather then to extend to their borders without any plausible explanation for doing so. At best, NATO expansion to the east is regarded in Russia as a mistaken policy, prone to complications and new controversies. That reaction in Russia to the Madrid decision was mute should not be a reason for complacency.
Summer is a dead season for Moscow politics.
In all these cases, the expansion of NATO has been a major stumbling block. But ask a person who is at all interested in foreign affairs and you discover a great deal of concern. There are millions of soldiers, workers in defense industries, intellectuals, mass media professionals, federal and regional government workers and political elites. Another risk involves arms control. However, the political tensions over NATO enlargement may be used by opponents of the treaty in Russian Parliament to block it once again.