Before NATO-Russia Council meeting, Alliance consults with partners, including Georgia, NATO SG says

Ahead of a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council slated for later this week, NATO is consulting closely with other partners, including Georgia, Moldova, Finland, Sweden, and the European Union, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a joint briefing with the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Olga Stefanishyna.

NATO Secretary General welcomes that Russia has agreed to offer to hold a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council later this week, dubbing it “a positive signal.” He said the parties would focus on European security issues, transparency related to military activities, risk reduction and arms control.

“We will listen to Russia’s concerns, but any meaningful dialogue must also address our concerns about Russia’s actions. And it must take place in consultation with Ukraine, as we are doing today. We are also consulting closely with other partners, including Georgia, Moldova, Finland, Sweden, and the European Union,” Jens Stoltenberg stated.

At today’s meeting, Olga Stefanishyna and Jens Stoltenberg addressed the evolving situation in and around Ukraine.

“Russia’s military build-up continues. With tens of thousands of combat-ready troops, armed with heavy capabilities.

On Friday, NATO Foreign Ministers called again on Russia to remove its forces from Ukraine and from your borders. Demonstrate transparency. And de-escalate. Any further aggression against Ukraine would come at a high political and economic price.

NATO Allies are united in their support for all nations to choose their own path. This has been a fundamental principle of European security for decades. Ukraine is a valued and long-standing partner to NATO.

And today’s meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission comes at the start of an important week for European security. The United States and Russia are currently meeting in Geneva. On Wednesday we will hold the NATO-Russia Council meeting here in Brussels. And on Thursday, the OSCE will meet,” Jens Stoltenberg asserted.