Russia flays NATO for 'biased' approach

Russia Friday criticised NATO for adopting a biased approach to the developments in Ukraine.

"A decision of NATO to suspend meetings in the frames of practical cooperation with Russia demonstrates a biased approach to the analysis of the causes and consequences of the events in Ukraine," Xinhua quoted Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich as saying in a statement.

That decision contradicted common sense, he said, as all projects of the Russia-NATO Council benefited both sides.

Among these projects were countering terrorism, piracy and extremism as well as disaster relief, and Afghanistan and Syria issues, Lukashevich said.

Russia had repeatedly explained to NATO its actions in Crimea were aimed at providing security to the Black Sea fleet stationed there, he said.

"We believe it is highly dangerous to add the NATO factor to the complicated and fragile situation in Ukraine. That factor creates extra tension and undermines the prospect of the normalisation of the situation," he said.

On Thursday, NATO said it would cancel a joint mission with Russia to escort chemical weapons out of Syria. The alliance also said it would suspend staff-level civilian or military meetings with Russia.

Also Friday, the Kremlin dismissed allegations that Moscow had a hand in the events in eastern Ukraine and Crimea.