NATO will always support its partners - Georgia and Ukraine - to help withstand the greatest pressure from Russia, - Deputy Secretary General of the Alliance, Mircea Geoana, said during his speech at the PACE spring plenary session.

"Our position is clear: we will never recognize the annexation of Crimea, we will continue to support our partners in Ukraine and Georgia to help them withstand the greatest pressure from Russia," Mircea Geoana said.

He also noted that Russia maintains a strong military presence, both on the territory of Ukraine and along its borders.

"We do not accept this fact and the use of force against a sovereign state," he said.