 Russia opposed the expansion of NATO into the former Soviet bloc nations of the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary in 1997 and, particularly, the second NATO expansion into the Baltic states in 2004.In 1999, Russia opposed the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia for more than two months ("see" Kosovo War), but later joined NATO peace-keeping forces in the Balkans in June 1999.Relations with the West have also been stained by Russia's relationship with Belarus.