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                Russia Says Not Seeking Confrontation with NATO

   by VOA News

   Moscow is not seeking confrontation with NATO, a senior Russian
   official said Saturday.

   Russia's Interfax news agency reported that Deputy Defense Minister
   Anatoly Antonov made a statement to that effect at a news briefing for
   foreign defense attaches in Moscow, addressing the outcome of a major
   inspection of the Russian armed forces' combat readiness.

   "We are not seeking confrontation with the alliance, and we favor the
   development of cooperation," Antonov is quoted as saying.

   In an attempt to reassure the audience, Antonov also said that Russia
   is "not going to attack anyone."

   Russia's relations with the West have reached the lowest point in years
   because of Russia's annexation of Crimea one year ago and Russia's
   support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

   European Union leaders, meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday,
   agreed to keep in place the economic sanctions against Russia until the
   cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, which Moscow endorsed, is fully
   implemented.

   The West has accused Russia of supporting the separatists, but Moscow
   has repeatedly denied the accusations.

   More than 6,000 people have lost their lives in the year-long conflict
   in eastern Ukraine between government forces and pro-Russian
   separatists.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-not-seeking-confrontation-with
   -nato/2689659.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-not-seeking-confrontation-with-nato/2689659.html