OREANDA-NEWS. The North Atlantic Alliance remains ready for dialogue with Russia, including within the framework of the NATO - Russia Council. This was stated on Tuesday by the head of the NATO Military Committee, Air Force General Stuart Peach, opening a meeting of the alliance's military committee at the level of the chiefs of staff.

"We continue to maintain a dual approach towards Russia [deterrence and dialogue], in particular through the NATO-Russia Council. We regret that Russia does not respond positively to proposals to hold a NATO-Russia Council, but we still look forward to a constructive relationship with Russia when its actions make this possible, " he said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during each speech emphasizes that the alliance has a dual approach to the Russian Federation-deterrence and dialogue. He also claimed earlier that Moscow has been refusing to hold a meeting of the NATO - Russia Council for two years. At the end of March, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that Moscow does not refuse to participate in the format and offers to restore contacts through the military.

The meeting of the NATO Military Committee at the level of the Chiefs of Staff takes place on Tuesday in person. The agenda of the meeting includes discussions on the progress of the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, ongoing military exercises and operations of the alliance, including a maritime mission in the Mediterranean and a training mission in Iraq.