NATO needs to work with Russia, and not against Moscow's wishes, Russia's ambassador to the transatlantic military alliance told news agency ITAR-TASS on Sunday.

"Common questions of security cannot be resolved without Russia, or against her," said Dmitry Rogozin, speaking from Berlin, where the NATO parliament is in session.

Rogozin said global security threats are "directed every bit as much against Russia as against the west," and expressed astonishment that NATO was seeking to "expand to the east."

NATO is working towards bringing former Soviet states Ukraine and Georgia on board, but Rogozin said the main threat today comes from the "south," in what was interpreted as a reference to Iran, whose nuclear programme has been causing deep concern to the United States and European nations.

Rogozin slammed Ukraine and Georgia for wanting to join the alliance, querying what benefit NATO membership would give in terms of their democratic credentials.

He also said purported benefits in terms of helping the fight against corruption were "ridiculous," posing the rhetorical question: "Just how will NATO tanks help fight corruption?"