NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin “if the context is right”, arguing that dialogue is important in what is a “difficult” relationship.

NATO’s – Russia relations became strained when Moscow annexed Crimean peninsula. Other issues have since weighed on the relationship, including the demise this year of a US-Russian nuclear non-proliferation pact.
“I believe in dialogue with Russia. And therefore, if the context is right, I am, of course, also ready to meet with President Putin. I just believe it’s better to meet than not to meet, and to sit down and discuss. And especially when things are difficult, it is important to sit around the same table. Russia is our biggest neighbour, Russia is here to stay and we need to strive for a better relationship with Russia. But even without an improved relationship with Russia, we need to manage a difficult relationship with Russia”, - Stoltenberg said.