Sec-Gen: Expulsion Of Russian Diplos Due To 'Increased Malign Activities'

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that the announcement yesterday of the expulsion of eight diplomats from the Russian mission to NATO on suspicion of being intelligence officers is not due to a single incident, but instead due to the 'increased malign activities' of Russia in recent times. Adds that the decision to expel the individuals came on the basis of 'gathered information'.

• The secretary-general also states that relations between Russia and the United States are as bad as they have been since the end of the Cold War. Says that there has been no Russia-NATO council in 18 months, but that NATO is 'ready to meet'.
• Stoltenberg also confirms the expected publication of a joint EU-NATO joint declaration in December. Following this, the EU is set to publish its 'Strategic Compass' and NATO its 'Strategic Concept'. The advanced publication allows for both sides to try to coordinate their respective foreign policy and security stances at a time when Western cooperation has been notable by its absence.