A combination of file photos show Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) at a news conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Feb. 28, 2017 and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference in Brussels, Belgium, May 25, 2017. (Xinhua)

MOSCOW, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday called on NATO to stop confrontation and seek better relations with Moscow.

Russia-NATO relations are "in the deepest crisis since the end of the Cold War," said the ministry in a statement.

It noted that the military alliance has unilaterally frozen projects of practical cooperation on European security.

The Russian ministry issued the statement on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between Russia and NATO.

The deployment of NATO hardware and personnel close to Russia's borders dilutes the provisions of the Founding Act and leads to a dangerous round of arms race, the ministry said.

"Growing negative trends are not Russia's choice. This is a direct result of the long-term destructive policy of the bloc aimed at recklessly achieving military and political domination in European and world affairs," the statement said.

NATO decided to freeze relations with Russia in April 2014 over the latter's incorporation of Crimea and its alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis.

Both sides said they have continued to keep channels for political dialogue open. In particular, the NATO-Russia Council, an important platform for dialogue, have held several meetings at the ambassadorial level.

In March, Petr Pavel, chairman of the NATO Military Committee, discussed by phone security issues with Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff. The conversation was the first of its kind since 2014.