There was still a “strong” Russian presence in eastern Ukraine in support of pro-Moscow rebels, NATO head Jens Stoltenberg told AFP Thursday.
Stoltenberg said he backed the continuation of European Union and United States sanctions against Russia over its involvement in Ukraine until Moscow changes its behavior.
“There is no doubt that there is a strong Russian presence in the eastern part of Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said in an interview at NATO HQ in Brussels.
 “There (are) Russian forces there, there (is) Russian equipment and Russia continues to train and to assist the separatists.”
 “Russia has to change behaviour if they (are going) to do something with the economic sanctions,” he said. “Therefore I think sanctions should continue.”
Damaging EU economic sanctions against Russia come up for review in December, with EU leaders saying a decision on whether they will be lifted depends on Moscow fully implementing its Minsk commitments to cut support for the rebels and restore the border.