China News Agency, Brussels, January 7 (Reporter De Yongjian) NATO held a special meeting of foreign ministers of member states on the 7th to discuss the situation in the border area between Russia and Ukraine.

NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg reiterated that NATO still pursues a dual-track approach of "defense + dialogue" towards Russia, and that "dialogue is more important" when the situation is tense.

  On the same day, the foreign ministers of NATO member countries participated in the meeting online, and Stoltenberg held a press conference to brief the meeting.

On January 12, the NATO-Russia Council meeting will be held in Brussels. The special foreign ministers' meeting aims to coordinate the positions of NATO member states before the meeting.

  Stoltenberg claimed at the press conference that Russia's "aggression" seriously undermined the European security order, but NATO still pursues a dual-track policy of "defense + dialogue" towards Russia, that is, maintaining "strong deterrence and defense" on the one hand, and maintaining "strong deterrence and defense" on the other. We are committed to conducting substantive dialogue with Russia.

  Stoltenberg also pointed out that now Russia is willing to sit down and negotiate, "this is a positive signal", and at a time of tension, "dialogue is more important".

  Regarding the NATO-Russia Council meeting on January 12, Stoltenberg said that NATO is ready to listen to Russia's concerns and do its best to resolve them through political means, while expecting the talks to address NATO's "long-term concerns" about Russia's actions .

  According to the announcement issued by NATO later on the 7th, the foreign ministers of NATO member states said at a special meeting that if the military operation of the "invasion" of Ukraine is further escalated, it will face serious consequences and heavy costs; NATO will continue to support "Ukrainian sovereignty and territory" Integrity", supporting a nation's "right to self-determination" over national paths and alliances.

  Earlier, with Russia and Ukraine deploying a large number of military personnel and equipment in the border areas, on December 17 Russia announced a draft security treaty with the United States and NATO, proposing to the United States that they should promise each other not to deploy short- and medium-range missiles in areas that may strike each other's territory. NATO is no longer "expanding eastward", ruling out the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.

  After the talks between NATO and Russia were finalized, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Glushko told the media that Russia would not negotiate for the sake of negotiations, and hoped that the meeting on the 12th would achieve concrete results and make substantive decisions to improve the security situation in Europe; as for NATO In addition to the special foreign ministers' meeting on the 7th to coordinate the positions of the member states, the NATO-Ukraine Committee meeting will be held on January 10, when Stoltenberg will hold a meeting with the visiting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba.

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