NATO and Russia are open to the possibility of reviving dialogue through a special council after Moscow's annexation of Crimea in March 2014 plunged bilateral relations into a deep freeze, Russian media reported Wednesday.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was quoted by the Vedomosti newspaper as saying that he would “explore how the [NATO-Russia] council, which had for all practical purposes not met since March 2014, could be used as a channel for political contacts.”
Stoltenberg's remarks had been prompted by the efforts of Germany's Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to restore regular diplomatic ties despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Vedomosti reported.
?€?In all likelihood, [talks] at the ambassadorial level should be possible again soon,?€? Steinmeier was cited as saying.
His actions have been attributed to his appraisal of Russia's ?€?constructive?€? political efforts over Syria.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed a readiness to renew diplomatic contact through the council, the Interfax news agency said Wednesday.
?€?If Mr Stoltenberg comes forward with this initiative, then we will get together, consider it, listen to what our NATO colleagues have to say,?€?, Lavrov said, adding that Moscow ?€?had never refused to work within the framework [of the council].?€?
?€?There is a large number of questions we have not been able to ask — including about violations of existing agreements the council had reached. We have a lot to talk about,?€? he added.
On Tuesday, NATO extended a formal membership invitation to Montenegro – a move Stoltenberg said was ?€?not directed against Russia,?€? yet unleashed a backlash from top officials in Moscow.