NATO warns Russia over Ukraine military build-up

FILE PHOTO: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a news conference following the talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kiev, Ukraine October 31, 2019. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Russia on Monday that the western military alliance was standing by Ukraine amid a large and unusual concentration of Russian troops on Ukraine's borders.

Stressing that the important thing now was to prevent situations from spiralling out of control, Stoltenberg urged Russia to be transparent about military activities, to reduce tensions and prevent an escalation.