MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande held a phone conversation on Wednesday, hoping to strengthen trust between Russia and NATO.
Speaking of the latest NATO summit in Warsaw from July 8 to 9, the three leaders "expressed mutual interest in a constructive dialogue and taking concrete measures aimed at strengthening trust between Russia and the alliance," a Kremlin statement said.
The NATO summit has decided on reinforcing its eastern flank by deploying four battalions in Poland and the Baltic states, with a communique accusing Russia of posing "risks and challenges for the security of allies and others."
The communique said, however, that NATO remained open to a periodic, focused and meaningful dialogue with a Russia willing to engage based on reciprocity in the NATO-Russia Council, "with a view to avoiding misunderstanding, miscalculation, and unintended escalation, and increasing transparency and predictability."
A NATO-Russia Council meeting at the level of ambassadors is due to take place later on Wednesday. (Xinhua)