Russia will not participate in the military operation in Afghanistan "under any circumstances," Russia's NATO envoy Dmitry Rogozin said on Monday.

"It is our principle that we will not take part in the military phase of the operation in Afghanistan. We will not send our soldiers or officers there under any circumstances," Rogozin said on the Ekho Moskvy radio.

The envoy described Russia's current relationship with NATO as "quite constructive." The two sides have assessed common threats recently and exchanged views on military cooperation, including logistics, anti-terrorism, and the fight against piracy, he said.

The Russia-NATO relations sunk to a Cold War-style chill following a brief war between Russia and Georgia in August 2008. 

But ties between NATO and Moscow have improved significantly in recent months.

In a sign that their relations have returned to the pre-conflict level, Russia and NATO resumed contacts within the Russia-NATO Council in early December.