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U.S., NATO allies concerned by Russia, but need its help

 
Published Dec. 2, 2015

BRUSSELS — The United States and its NATO allies struggled Tuesday to come up with a clear message to send Russia at a time of conflicting concerns in Europe and the Middle East.

While the West remains alarmed by Moscow's aggressive action in Ukraine and go-it-alone military efforts in Syria, they say they need Russian help in both places.

Meeting in Brussels, which just emerged from a virtual lockdown prompted by terror threats after recent attacks in Paris, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and other top diplomats discussed ways to intensify the campaign in Syria against Islamic State extremists and calm tensions between Turkey and Russia after Ankara shot down a Russian warplane that it believed crossed its border.

The meetings took place as Germany approved plans to commit up to 1,200 soldiers for non-combat roles in support of the anti-Islamic State coalition and a day before a British vote on expanding airstrikes against the group. In Paris, U.S. President Barack Obama voiced optimism about Russia eventually dropping its support for Bashar Assad, Syria's leader, and helping to end the war.

The 4½-year conflict has killed more than 300,000 people and sparked the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.

But for all the hopes of greater cooperation, there were countless reminders of the tensions between NATO and Russia, the land it was originally created to counter. Russia wasn't present for any of the talks at the alliance's headquarters outside the Belgian capital.

Kerry and Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski discussed a recent uptick in violence in eastern Ukraine and stressed the need for the government, rebels and the Kremlin to fully implement a February cease-fire agreement. They also agreed that "international sanctions against Russia should stay in place," State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Russia annexed the Ukrainian province of Crimea in 2014 and has been supporting rebels fighting the government in the eastern half of the country.

In the wider meeting, NATO countries prepared to welcome Montenegro as the military alliance's 29th member, despite Moscow's warning of retaliation against the small Balkan nation, which is hundreds of miles away from Russia's border.