In an address to the Russian people today President Vladimir Putin said he was concerned about NATO and claimed it has ignored world opinion.
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President Vladimir Putin
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But in the address to both houses of parliament he did back closer co-operation with the European Union.
Criticising NATO, Mr Putin said: "We believe the problem is that this organisation sometimes ignores international opinion and international agreements when it takes its decisions."
Only the United Nations could authorise force in international affairs, he said.
Russia strongly opposed the alliance's air raids on Yugoslavia during the Kosovo crisis but has been mending relations recently.
Mr Putin was more favourable to the EU. "A course of integration with Europe will be one of the main directions of our foreign policy," he said.