National Security and Defense Council Secretary Raisa Bohatyriova has said recent statements that Russia poses a threat to the national security are inadmissible.

She gave her position at a press conference.

"Being the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council I assess as inadmissible the fact that our strategic partner is called or is considered as a threat to the national security," Bohatyriova said.

A real threat emerges when practical work is replaced by political declarations or political speculations, she said.

"Today, we have no right before citizens of Ukraine or before our foreign partners to digress for a small showdown," Bohatyriova said.

The secretary of the NSDC noted that Ukraine and Russia prolonged the Ukrainian-Russian friendship treaty in October.

According to Bohatyriova, since neither Ukraine nor Russia has changed any terms of the treaty, they have no claims to one another.

Bohatyriova said the Ukrainian-Russian relations should continue to develop on mutually beneficial terms.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Ukrainian Ambassador to Russian Kostiantyn Hryschenko, who is the first deputy secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, has assessed the Ukrainian-Russian relations as complicated.

According to a poll conducted by the Public Opinion Fund - Ukraine from November 12 through November 24, 70.9% of Ukrainians have a positive view of Russia.