New NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg: Ukraine is a top priority

In an interview with the Norwegian news agency on September 24, new NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that for him, solving the situation in Ukraine is the top priority after officially taking office.

The Norwegian politician, who will officially take office on October 1 to replace Danish Anders Fogh Rasmussen, stressed the importance of Ukraine to the military alliance.

New NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (Source: AP)

"The gravity of the situation in Ukraine shows that force is used to change the state's borders. Ukraine is a NATO partner and, moreover, shares borders with the alliance's member states," he said.

According to Mr. Stoltenberg, the experience he has gained over more than 8 years, including a period when he served as head of state of a country that shares a border and cooperates closely with Russia, will help him in his new position.

Mr. Stoltenberg also said that NATO is not considering restoring previous relations with Russia because Moscow "pursues a more aggressive stance." Previously, US President Barack Obama declared that Russia's recent actions in Ukraine threaten world order./.

According to VNA