NATO again warns Russia of further military aggression against the Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right, and Olga Stefanishyna at NATO on Monday. Pic/AP

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned Russia again that a further military aggression against Ukraine would carry a "high political and economic price". Stoltenberg, at the beginning of what he described as an "important week for European security", highlighted the diplomatic efforts underway in search of a solution to prevent an armed conflict, during a joint press conference with Olga Stefanishyna, deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, reports Ninhua news agency. Stoltenberg said Russia's agreement to attend the NATO-Russia Council was "a positive signal".

"We will focus on European security issues, transparency related to military activities, risk reduction and arms control," he said. "We are working hard for a peaceful solution... We also need to send a very clear message to Russia that we are united and that there will be severe costs, economic, political costs for Russia if they once again use military force against Ukraine." Stefanishyna said Ukraine supported the use of diplomatic channels with Russia to prevent military escalation, but warned Russia's demands for Ukraine to be excluded from future NATO membership were not acceptable.

US-Russia security talks end

A new round of security talks between the US and Russia concluded in Geneva without any diplomatic breakthrough. "The talks were difficult, long, very professional, deep, concrete, without attempts to gloss over some sharp edges," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the press on Monday night.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said, "we had a frank and forthright discussion over the course of nearly eight hours at the US Mission in Geneva. This is the third time the US-Russia Strategic Stability Dialogue has convened since President (Joe)Biden and President (Vladimir) Putin met in Geneva last June". Ryabkov said he told his US counterpart that Russia has no plans to attack Ukraine, and there was no reason to fear escalation of tensions with Kiev.

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