In his interview to the Norwegian News Agency, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, who will assume the functions of the NATO Secretary General as of 1 October 2014, replacing Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, stated that 'Going on with business (with Russia) as usual is not an alternative (for NATO).

'It's Russia which has chosen to take a more aggressive line. That has meant that the hope we originally had of a near and close partnership has not been possible to follow up. Russia has chosen differently,' NATO's new chief says.

He underlines that the situation in Ukraine will be a central part of his job.

'What's so serious about Ukraine is that military force has been used to change a country's borders. Ukraine is a partner of NATO, and in addition it's near NATO's borders,' Stoltenberg says.