Interfax: Point of no return in Russia-NATO relations has not been passed – Russian Deputy Foreign Ministry

(Interfax – December 1, 2014) Russia does not believe the point of no return has been passed in its relations with NATO and is ready to work with the alliance, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“The point of no return has not been passed. I think it’s in the interests of both sides not to fuel tensions, but to actively work together on real threats to European and global security. As for Russia, we are ready for it,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov said in an interview with Interfax.

“Despite all our differences, the global agenda of cooperation on reaction to challenges to international security is still there and Russia is not refusing cooperation in all forms with our partners,” Meshkov said.

The foreign ministers of the NATO countries will meet in Brussels this week. Ministerial meetings of the NATO-Russia Council were traditionally conducted during this period. The work of the council has now been suspended over the two sides’ positions on the situation in Ukraine.

“A lot will depend on the readiness of our colleagues in NATO to adopt a realistic attitude. The current suspension is hurting global and European security, above all. And those who benefit from it are various extremists, ISIS and other Islamic caliphates,” the Russian diplomat said.

Responding to a question as to whether there are currently any contacts with the NATO headquarters and new NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Meshkov said: “We maintain working contacts with the NATO headquarters, which has a general secretary.”