Answer
In response to NATO's eastward expansion, Primakov pushed for a policy known as "protest". It involved expressing strong disapproval and resistance to the alliance's enlargement, particularly in relation to former Soviet republics. Primakov believed that NATO's expansion would undermine Russia's security interests and geopolitical influence in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The policy aimed to protect Russia's sphere of influence and counterbalance NATO's growing presence in the region.