NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that participants at the upcoming NATO summit in Madrid in June will declare Russia to be a "threat to peace and stability" in the new alliance's Strategic Concept.

The NATO Strategic Concept is the organization's key document, in which member countries reaffirm NATO's values and purpose, provide a collective assessment of the security environment, define security challenges and measures to address them, and outline guidelines for the alliance's future political and military development.

In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Stoltenberg stressed that "we will declare that Russia is no longer a partner, but a threat to our security, to peace and stability." 

The new NATO strategic concept will also mention China, whose rise poses a threat to NATO's interests, values, and security, he added.

It is worth noting that Stoltenberg announced, on May 26, that Russia, which is designated as a strategic partner in the current strategy of the alliance adopted in 2010, would not be considered a strategic partner in NATO's new strategy.

On its account, Moscow has repeatedly stated that NATO is a confrontational alliance.

Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, stated in early April that furthering the alliance's eastward expansion is aggressive and will not make Europe more secure.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Stoltenberg claimed that Western modern weapon deliveries to Ukraine could assist Kiev in regaining control of Donbas.

Stoltenberg added that NATO will continue to assist Ukraine in self-defense, despite the fact that the military alliance is not a party to the conflict.

Increasing modern arms supplies would increase Ukraine's chances of driving Russian troops out of the southeastern regions (Donbas), Stoltenberg added.

Despite this, Stoltenberg reiterated that NATO will not send troops to Ukraine. He warned that the war in Ukraine could last for years.

Read more: Johnson warns war in Ukraine could drag on for "years to come"