NATO secretary general urges Russia to stop backing Donbas militia

16:56, 19.05.2015 1 min read

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg calls for all sides involved in eastern Ukraine to ensure that the Minsk agreements are fully observed and urges Russia to stop supporting Kyiv's armed opponents.

Speaking to journalists following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Brussels on Tuesday, Stoltenberg said the two had discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine and the need to fully observe the Minsk agreements, stop firing, and withdraw heavy weapons.

While NATO has stopped practical partnership with Russia, it has not severed all contacts with it, Stoltenberg said. He mentioned, in particular, his previous meeting with Lavrov on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in February.

Stoltenberg also emphasized the importance of keeping communications channels open to avoid misunderstanding.