By James Slavyanski
MOSCOW
Russia and the NATO military alliance are going through their worst period since the end of the Cold War, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has admitted.
Speaking in an interview with Russian-language news agency RIA Novosti on Tuesday, Lavrov acknowledged the gravity of the problems between his country and the 28-member alliance.
He said: "Relations between Russia and NATO are going through the deepest crisis since the end of the Cold War … nevertheless, we consider it vital to keep the channels for political dialogue open."
Lavrov said Moscow and NATO should continue to fulfill their obligations according to the Russia-NATO 1997 Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security.
Russia had no plans to close either its permanent mission to NATO or the NATO Information Office in Moscow as they perform tasks in line with the agreement, he added.
Allegations denied
After former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych fled the country in the face of mass pro-European Union protests, Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, prompting the U.S. and many Western nations to impose sanctions against specific individuals in Russia and the Crimea.
The U.S., EU and several other nations levied the sanctions at the beginning in March, with successive rounds of punitive action being added due to Russia's alleged involvement with the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Russia imposed an ban on food imports from states participating in the sanctions in response.
Russia has been accused of supporting the conflict in eastern Ukraine with soldiers and supplies, which Moscow has consistently denied.
www.aa.com.tr/en
