Russia will remain a threat to NATO even if its armed forces are defeated in Ukraine, a senior Western alliance military official has said, the Voice of America reports.

Whatever the outcome of the war, Russia is likely to have similar ambitions, so the threat is not going anywhere, Admiral Rob Bauer, chairman of NATO's military committee, told reporters at the alliance's Brussels headquarters.

Although the war has depleted Russian troops, equipment and ammunition, NATO countries expect Moscow to try to rebuild and even strengthen its military capabilities, Bauer said.

According to Bauer, NATO will take time to assess how long it will take Russia to rebuild and improve its forces.