NATO does not seek conflict with Russia, but will prevent any escalation of the situation in Ukraine, while remaining committed to a diplomatic solution in the country, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a press conference on Friday.

NATO welcomes efforts to create humanitarian corridors for the withdrawal of residents and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, he added.

NATO also rejected demands from Kyiv to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine. 

"We understand the desperation but we also believe that if we did that we would end up with something that could lead to a full-fledged war in Europe, involving much more countries," Stoltenberg said.