Russia will not send troops to help NATO...

But Patrushev reaffirmed Russia"s commitments to help the alliance in other ways.

Russia has allowed land transits of non-lethal NATO supplies to Afghanistan and promised more assistance in the bloc"s operations in the war-torn country by expanding transits, supplying helicopters and training Afghan security forces.

The Western military bloc froze ties with Russia after its armed conflict with Georgia in 2008, but they have since resumed formal contacts.

Russia"s new military doctrine identified NATO"s expansion to include former Soviet-bloc states as a threat.

MOSCOW, February 9 (RIA Novosti)