Tillerson denounces ‘Russian aggression’

BRUSSELS: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Friday he would hold talks with Nato allies about ‘Russia’s aggression in Ukraine’, signalling a tougher stance toward Moscow from the Trump administration.

‘We want to have a discussion around Nato’s posture in Europe, most particularly in eastern Europe in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and elsewhere,’ Tillerson said upon arriving in Brussels for his first Nato talks.

Tillerson joined the talks listing the Trump administration’s top priority as pushing Nato allies to meet their pledges to boost defence spending as Washington says it has borne a ‘disproportionate’ share of the costs for too long.

State Department officials said Tillerson would work with Nato allies to press Russia to fulfil its obligations under the Minsk agreements to end the war in eastern Ukraine.

Tillerson’s remarks appeared likely to ease concerns that US President Donald Trump is more interested in cultivating ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin than in shoring up the 28-nation alliance against a more assertive Moscow.