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Russian, French, German leaders discuss Russia-NATO relations over phone

Xinhua, July 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande held a phone conversation on Wednesday, hoping to strengthen trust between Russia and NATO.

Speaking of the latest NATO summit in Warsaw from July 8 to 9, the three leaders "expressed mutual interest in a constructive dialogue and taking concrete measures aimed at strengthening trust between Russia and the alliance," a Kremlin statement said.

The NATO summit has decided on reinforcing its eastern flank by deploying four battalions in Poland and the Baltic states, with a communique accusing Russia of posing "risks and challenges for the security of allies and others."

The communique said, however, that NATO remained open to a periodic, focused and meaningful dialogue with a Russia willing to engage based on reciprocity in the NATO-Russia Council, "with a view to avoiding misunderstanding, miscalculation, and unintended escalation, and increasing transparency and predictability."

A NATO-Russia Council meeting at the level of ambassadors is due to take place later on Wednesday. Endi