BRUSSELS - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg here on Wednesday said that NATO allies and Russia held a "frank and serious" discussion.
Stoltenberg made the remarks after a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, which had been suspended for almost two years.
"I have just chaired a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. And we all agree that it is in all our interest to keep political channels for political dialogue open," said Stoltenberg.
Both sides discussed three topics, including the crisis in and around Ukraine, issues related to military activities, transparency and risk reduction, and an assessment of the security situation in Afghanistan, including regional terrorist threats, according to the NATO chief.
"Political dialogue among nations that share the same Euro-Atlantic area is both necessary and useful, especially in times of tensions as we experience now," he said.
"However, this does not mean that we are back to business as usual," he said.
"We had a frank and serious discussion. NATO Allies and Russia hold very different views. But we have listened to what each of us have to say," said Stoltenberg.
Stoltenberg noted that NATO and Russia have "profound and persistent disagreements" and "Today's meeting did not change that. "
"NATO Allies remain firm that there can be no return to practical cooperation until Russia returns to the respect of international law. But we will keep channels of communication open, " he said.(Xinhua)