NATO says Russian air strikes in Syria are "undermining" UN-mediated peace talks aimed at finding a political solution to end the nearly five-year conflict.
"The intense Russia air strikes, mainly targeting opposition groups in Syria, [are] undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on February 5 as he arrived for an EU defense ministers meeting in Amsterdam.
"The increased Russia presence, the air activity in Syria, is also causing increased tensions and violations of Turkish airspace ... violations of NATO airspace," he said. "This creates risks."
The peace talks in Geneva broke down earlier this week as Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, launched a new offensive against rebel forces in the northern city of Aleppo.
The Syrian army has made significant advances against the rebels around Aleppo and is advancing on the country's largest city.
