Brussels, (IINA) - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated on Friday that Russia's ongoing airstrikes in Syria are undermining the peace talks in Geneva, Anadolu Agency reported.

"The intense Russian airstrikes, mainly targeting opposition groups in Syria, is undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict", Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of an EU defense ministers meeting.

Meanwhile, Syrian peace talks in Geneva earlier this week broke up acrimoniously as long-time Moscow-ally Bashar Al-Assad launched a fresh offensive against rebel forces in Aleppo with massive Russian backing.

The UN Security Council is due to meet later Friday to discuss the situation, with the negotiations on hold until February 25.

The NATO chief said the alliance strongly supports all efforts to find negotiated peaceful and political solution to the conflict in Syria. "But the increased Russian presence and air activity in Syria is also causing increased tensions and violations of Turkish airspace. This creates risks, heightens tensions", Stoltenberg added.

He further described it as a challenge for NATO because "it is also a violation of NATO airspace".

Air offensives by Russian fighter jets in Syria have recently been the source of diplomatic strain between Ankara and Moscow since a Russian SU-24 violating Turkish airspace was intercepted and shot down on November 24 by Turkish F-16 fighters.

AG/IINA