NATO-Russia Council to meet Monday

By Hasan Esen

BRUSSELS

The NATO-Russia Council meeting will convene on Monday, the alliance’s Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, announced on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters before a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels, Stoltenberg said it is important to have direct dialogue with Russia at a time when tension is high.

He then invited members of the NATO-Russia Council to meet on Monday.

NATO ambassadors and Russian diplomats are expected to discuss the situation in eastern Ukraine during the council meeting.

NATO-Russian relations worsened following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The UN General Assembly voted almost unanimously to proclaim the annexation illegal.

Along with many UN countries, including the U.S. and the EU, Turkey does not recognize Crimea as Russian territory.