Moscow. June 8. INTERFAX-Russia is not abandoning the dialogue with NATO, but there is no positive agenda for the Russia-NATO Council yet, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said.
"We do not refuse the dialogue. But to talk about holding a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council is not realistic yet, there is no positive agenda, " he told Interfax on Tuesday.
He stressed that it is wrong to say that Moscow once refused to engage in dialogue with the alliance.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO is in contact with the Russian Federation on the issue of convening the NRC, but there is no positive response yet.
"We offered Russia to hold a new meeting of the NRC. So far, we have not received a positive response. However, we are in contact with Russia about the possibility of holding such a meeting, " he said, speaking at the Atlantic Council.
Stoltenberg once again recalled that NATO, as far as Russia is concerned, adheres to a policy that combines strengthening defense capabilities and dialogue.
