"At the end of the Cold War, many of us believed that we could have a better relationship with Russia, but President Putin chose to walk away from cooperation and dialogue, he left unfulfilled promises."

APA reports that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this during his speech at the Nordic Labor Movement Cooperation Committee (SAMAK) summit in Helsinki.

"Putin has destroyed the fundamental principles of global security, attacked neighboring countries and tried to undermine our democracies."

Stoltenberg cited Moscow's suspension of participation in the New START Treaty, which limits Russia's nuclear weapons, as the latest example of Moscow's lack of respect for international norms.

"We have to admit that the end of this war will not return our relations with Russia to normal. There is no going back. In a more dangerous world, it is no longer possible to consider defense as an optional option. It is a necessity," Stoltenberg stressed.