MOSCOW — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is welcoming the meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, as tensions simmer between the military alliance and Moscow.
Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels on Thursday that NATO’s approach to Russia is one of defense and dialogue, so it’s important to talk to the biggest country in the European neighborhood.
He says “It’s absolutely, totally in line with NATO policies to talk to Russia, to meet with Russian leaders. We don’t want a new Cold War.
We don’t want to isolate Russia. We want to strive for a better relationship.”
He says “for me, dialogue is not a sign of weakness. Dialogue is a sign of strength.”
Trump holds talks with his NATO counterparts in Brussels on July 11-12. /ee
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