NATO Regrets Moscow's Unwillingness to Meet with the Alliance

Moscow did not respond to the offer to hold a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, lamented the chairman of the NATO Military Committee Stuart Peach. He stated the strife for constructive relations with the Russian Federation. The NATO Military Committee regrets that Russia did not respond to the alliance's proposal to hold a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. This was announced by the chairman of the committee, Stuart Peach, at the opening of the meeting of the Alliance's general staff chiefs on Tuesday, May 18, a DW correspondent reports from Brussels. At the same time, Peach stressed that the North Atlantic Alliance continues to "strive for constructive relations with Russia when the actions of the Russian Federation make it possible." He added that NATO keeps channels of communication with Moscow open. "Russia continues its pattern of destabilizing aggressive actions, including continuing violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as a military presence at the borders of Ukraine," Stuart Peach said. According to him, the number of Russian troops near Ukraine has slightly decreased, but "tens of thousands (of Russian servicemen - Ed.) remain there, as well as weapons and equipment." In addition, the head of the NATO military committee noted that Moscow continues to try to restrict shipping in the Black Sea and the Kerch Strait. On May 18, members of the NATO military committee will discuss, in particular, the initiative to adapt the alliance to the future "NATO-2030" challenges and will meet with the chiefs of Ukraine and Georgia's general staff. The NATO-Russia Council last met in July 2019. The post of Russia's representative to NATO has remained vacant since January 2018, after Alexander Grushko, who held this position, became Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.