MOSCOW, October 6 (RIA Novosti) - NATO wants to build a constructive relationship with Russia despite differences over the situation in Ukraine, NATO's new secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, told Gazeta Wyborcza on Monday.
During the interview with the Polish newspaper, Stoltenberg claimed there was no contradiction between NATO's strength and building a constructive relationship with Russia, according to his political experience.
Stoltenberg acknowledged that NATO did not approve of Russia's actions in Ukraine and Crimea's reunification with Russia in March, but stated the violations do not affect NATO's attempts and hopes to improve its relations with Moscow.
Relations between Russia and NATO have been strained since the alliance accused Russia of meddling in the Ukrainian situation, a claim that Russia has repeatedly denied.
Following Crimea's reunification with Russia in March 2014, NATO boosted its military presence close to Russia's border, specifically in Poland and the former Soviet Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
