This was the verdict of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg while commenting on the eight-month-long conflict on Wednesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the late monarch, saying, “For many decades, Elizabeth II rightly enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects.”
The announcement followed a U.S. decision to up the number of U.S. destroyers based in Rota, Spain, from four to six.
The defence bloc has said it was not seeking conflict with Russia, adding that it would remain committed to keeping channels for diplomacy and deconfliction open.
