Washington. December 1st. INTERFAX - Russia's intentions are still unclear, but its actions near the border with Ukraine and rhetoric have recently forced NATO to prepare for the worst, Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
"The situation around Ukraine remains unstable and unpredictable. There is no confidence in Russia's intentions," he said at a press conference following the first day of meetings in Riga of NATO foreign ministers.
The NATO Secretary General reiterated that Russia's "significant, unusual concentration of forces" on the border is alarming because it is accompanied by "intensified rhetoric."
Stoltenberg called on Russia "to be transparent, de-escalate and reduce tensions" and warned that "aggression against Ukraine will cost Russia dearly and will have serious political and economic consequences."
"We can always hope for the best, but we must be prepared for the worst," he said, adding that the bloc will maintain a high degree of military readiness while remaining open to dialogue.
As US State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with Stoltenberg.
