NATO advises Russia to take concrete steps to de-escalate crisis with Ukraine

BRUSSELS, June 2 (UPI) -- Speaking to a group of Russian journalists on Monday, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen laid out NATO's position regarding Russian actions toward Ukraine.

Rasmussen lamented that "Russia has not kept its pledges. Russia has threatened its neighbours, and used force against them. It has not respected the territorial integrity or political independence of other countries."

After reiterating NATO support for Ukraine's territorial sovereign integrity, the secretary general urged Russia to take specific steps to de-escalate tensions.

"We call on Russia to withdraw its troops fully and verifiably from Ukraine's border, with additional international inspections. To stop the flow of arms and fighters into Ukraine. To condemn armed separatists and use its influence for the freeing of OSCE monitors taken hostage."

The media briefing followed a NATO-Russia Council meeting that Rasmussen said "was not an easy meeting, but it was a necessary one."