NATO remains vigilant against Russian aggressive actions amid increased troop presence around Ukraine, the head of the intergovernmental military alliance warned on Friday.

Axar.az reports that this was reported by foreign media.

"Russia still has troops in and around Ukraine, more troops now than before the escalation ... NATO remains vigilant because this is part of a disturbing pattern of Russian aggressive actions," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference after a meeting at the Elysee Palace.

recent spike in violence in Donbas, southeastern Ukraine, where Kyiv's troops have battled separatist forces since 2014.

Commending France's active role in the Normandy format initiative for de-escalation of the military crisis involving talks with Germany and Ukraine, Stoltenberg stressed on the need for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

"We will uphold the rules based order against the authoritarian pushback from countries like Russia and China," he said.

The NATO chief is on an official visit to Paris for consultations ahead of the NATO summit on June 14 in Brussels.