NATO chief says talks with Russia "frank and serious"

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg here on Wednesday said that NATO allies and Russia held a "frank and serious" discussion.

Stoltenberg made the remarks after the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, which was the first time since June 2014.

"I have just chaired a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. And we all agree that it is in all our interest to keep political channels for political dialogue open," said Stoltenberg following the meeting.

Both sides discussed three topics, including the crisis in and around Ukraine, issues related to military activities, transparency and risk reduction, and an assessment of the security situation in Afghanistan, including regional terrorist threats, according to the NATO chief.

"Political dialogue among nations that share the same Euro-Atlantic area is both necessary and useful, especially in times of tensions as we experience now," he said.

"However, this does not mean that we are back to business as usual," he said.

"We had a frank and serious discussion. NATO Allies and Russia hold very different views. But we have listened to what each of us have to say," said Stoltenberg. Enditem