Mattis: US not ready to collaborate militarily with Russia

February 16, 2017 at 8:13 a.m. | Updated February 16, 2017 at 8:20 a.m.

by Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, center, speaks with Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, right, during a meeting of the NATO-Georgia Council at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday told NATO ministers that the alliance is "a fundamental bedrock for the United States" while at the same time demanding an increased financial commitment from the 27 other alliance members. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, center, speaks with Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, right, during a meeting of the NATO-Georgia Council at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday told NATO ministers that the alliance is "a fundamental bedrock for the United States" while at the same time demanding an increased financial commitment from the 27 other alliance members. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

BRUSSELS (AP) - Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says the U.S. is not ready to collaborate militarily with Russia, appearing to close the door for now on any effort to work more with Moscow in the fight against Islamic State militants in Syria.

Mattis says the U.S. will continue to engage politically with Russian President Vladmir Putin's government to try to find common ground. He says Russia must "prove itself" and abide by international law.

The U.S. ceased military to military relations with Russia in the wake of Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.

As a candidate, President Donald Trump repeatedly praised Putin, saying he wanted a new era of cooperation with Moscow.

Putin called Thursday for increased intelligence cooperation with the U.S. and NATO.

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