Sharjah 24 – AFP: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned Friday that the threat of a fresh Russian invasion of Ukraine remained "real" as allies looked to coordinate their approach ahead of crunch talks with Moscow next week.
"The risk of conflict is real. Russia's aggressive actions seriously undermine the security order in Europe," Stoltenberg said after a video meeting of NATO foreign ministers.
"The Russian military build-up has not stopped, it continues and they are gradually building up with more forces, more capabilities."
Tensions have soared in recent months as the West has accused Moscow of threatening a full-scale invasion of its neighbour by massing some 100,000 troops on its border.
High-ranking officials from the United States and Russia are set to hold talks in Geneva on Monday, after Moscow laid down a list of demands for Washington and the Western military alliance.
Those will be followed Wednesday by a meeting between Russia and all 30 NATO members -- the first such encounter since July 2019.
"NATO will engage in dialogue with Russia in good faith and on substance but we must also be prepared for the possibility that diplomacy will fail," Stoltenberg said.
"Today ministers stressed that any further aggression against Ukraine would have significant consequences and carry a heavy price for Russia."
The West is eyeing tough financial sanctions on Moscow if it stages an invasion, but NATO is not ready to get involved militarily to protect Ukraine.
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