International security

NATO seeks to cut risk of confrontations after downing of Russian warplane

NATO allies must not lose sight of the threat Russia poses along the alliance’s eastern flank even as it considers new steps this week to avoid airspace confrontations in the wake of Turkey’s downing of a Russian warplane, NATO’s top official said on Monday.

As NATO foreign ministers gather for two days of talks in Brussels on Tuesday, much of the focus will be on Russia and its growing military presence on NATO’s doorstep in Syria. But the crisis in Ukraine also will demand alliance attention.

“We have to do both at the same time,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters.