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Chancellor Scholz (right) with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg
Photo: Hannibal Hanschke / REUTERS
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has made it clear that NATO has "no interest in permanent tensions" with the Kremlin.
"We want stable relations with Russia," Scholz said after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on the Ukraine crisis.
"We are very concerned," the chancellor called on the government in Moscow to de-escalate.
Russia has already massed around 100,000 soldiers on its border with Ukraine.
In the West, there are fears of an invasion of Ukraine, but the government in Moscow rejects such concerns.
Stoltenberg invited representatives of Russia and the 30 alliance states to further rounds of talks.
The Allies are ready to put written proposals on the table in the NATO-Russia Council and to strive for constructive results, said the Norwegian after the meeting with Scholz.
According to him, it could be about reducing risks in military activities, more transparency and improving communication channels, among other things.
At the first meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in around two and a half years, both sides exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict and other current issues for around four hours last Wednesday.
According to Stoltenberg, it was also agreed that a schedule for further meetings should be explored.
On Tuesday, Stoltenberg said he had invited all members of the NATO-Russia Council to a "series of meetings".
The NATO partners are ready to listen to Russia's concerns, but they will not compromise on basic principles, said Stoltenberg.
This includes that every nation can choose its own path and that NATO must have the ability to defend all allies.
Scholz
does not rule out sanctions against Nord Stream 2
Scholz did not rule out that in the event of Russian aggression against Ukraine, there would also be sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline. An agreement had been reached between the USA and Germany on how to proceed with the pipeline. Germany stands by the agreement, which says, for example, that Ukraine should continue to be a transit country for Russian gas to Western Europe. "This also means that it is clear that there will be high costs, that everything has to be discussed if there is a military intervention against Ukraine," he added when asked whether Nord Stream 2 could also be affected .
When asked whether a Russian invasion could also trigger NATO military aid to Ukraine, Scholz said he warned Moscow of serious political, economic and financial consequences.
He again ruled out the delivery of weapons to Ukraine.
as/dpa
