BRUSSELS, March 4. /TASS/. NATO does not seek a war with Russia, but has a responsibility that the conflict will not spread beyond Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday.

"We have a responsibility to ensure it does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine. Because that would be even more devastating and more dangerous. With even more human suffering," he said adding, "NATO is not seeking a war with Russia."

Stoltenberg said that the alliance remained committed to keeping de-confliction channels with Russia open.

"But we remain committed to keeping channels for diplomacy and de-confliction open. To avoid any unintended escalation, misunderstanding, or miscalculation," he said.

Additionally, Stoltenberg pointed out that NATO would consider longer-term implications for Euro-Atlantic security.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in order to protect people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories.

In response, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other states imposed sanctions against Russian individuals and entities.