BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, the US State Department and the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that top Russian and US diplomats, Sergei Lavrov and John Kerry respectively, will meet in Sochi on May 12.
"So this is a part of an ongoing political consultation which takes place between NATO allies and Russia, and also between NATO as an alliance and Russia. And I welcome contacts, I welcome political engagement," Stoltenberg said at a press conference, adding that the bloc keeps its channels of communication with Russia open, despite the fact that practical cooperation has been suspended.
The alliance accuses Moscow of meddling in the Ukrainian internal conflict, while Russia denies these allegations, warning that NATO expansion will undermine regional security.