NATO, Russia have "substantial meeting on topics of common concern": NATO chief

NATO allies and Russia on Thursday had a "substantial meeting on topics of common concern," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference.

"It was a long meeting. It was a frank meeting, and the meeting was constructive," he told media after this year's first NATO-Russia Council meeting at the ambassadorial level which he chaired.

Ukraine crisis was the first topic the two sides addressed. Stoltenberg noted, "NATO Allies and Russia continue to have clear disagreements on the crisis in and around Ukraine."

He voiced deep concern over the security situation in eastern Ukraine, saying that "ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine have reached record levels."

According to him, during the meeting, NATO Allies urged Russia to "use its significant influence" to ensure all signatories fully implement the Minsk Agreements.

Regarding military transparency and risk reduction, Stoltenberg said both sides exchanged the information about their respective military postures.

"Russia gave a briefing on the three new divisions in its Western Military District. And NATO provided a briefing on the four battlegroups we are deploying to Poland and the Baltic countries," he added.

NATO and Russia also discussed the challenging security situation in Afghanistan.

NATO suspended practical cooperation with Russia in April 2014 in response to the Ukraine crisis, and the NATO-Russia Council was the only channel left open.

The Council, which was established in 2002, was conceived as a mechanism for consultation, consensus-building, cooperation, joint decision and joint action.