NATO does not want a new arms race with Russia, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday amid a resurgence of tensions between the West and Moscow following the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the United Kingdom.
"We do not want a new arms race, so we are focusing on a reaction that is strong and predictable, but also measured and defensive," Stoltenberg told reporters, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trinto at his side in Ottawa.
"We do not want a new Cold War," he insisted. "Russia is here to stay, Russia is our neighbor, so we are still trying to have a more constructive relationship with Russia."
Stoltenberg made the remarks when asked if new sanctions would be imposed by NATO member states on Moscow in response to the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia on March 4 in Salisbury. in the south west of England. Conservative British Prime Minister Theresa May has blamed Russia for the neuroparalysis attack, saying it was "the only" convincing explanation.
