NATO convenes allied defense ministers on February 16 and 17 to discuss the situation in Ukraine

BRUSSELS, Jan. 28 (Royals Blue) –

NATO has called a meeting of allied defense ministers for the next 16 and 17 February in full escalation of tensions with Russia over the crisis in Ukraine.

The meeting, of a regular nature, will be chaired by the Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, who will bring together the North Atlantic Council in the format of Defense Ministers, as confirmed by the military organization in a statement.

NATO organizes this meeting several times a year, although this time it will be marked by the future of events in Ukraine. NATO is negotiating a political solution to the crisis with Russia, after the concentration of Russian troops on the border has set off alarms about an invasion.

This Wednesday, the military organization responded in writing to Moscow about its security demands. Although he rejected their demands for NATO not to expand into Eastern Europe, he pointed out issues on which he is willing to negotiate with the Kremlin, such as the reduction of nuclear weapons, the control of short- and medium-range missiles or greater transparency in military maneuvers.

In Brussels they consider that the ball is now in Moscow’s court and the future of the crisis will depend on how it responds to NATO’s offer of dialogue. Although the Atlantic Alliance has asked to channel the crisis through dialogue and avoid a war, it has also mobilized forces in Eastern Europe and supported Kiev militarily to dissuade Russia from a possible aggression.