By RFE/RL
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said moves to bolster the alliance's eastern flank are a "defensive" response to the "aggressive actions of Russia" and urged Moscow to use "all its influence" with separatists in eastern Ukraine to press them into complying with a shattered September cease-fire deal.
Stoltenberg spoke before a February 5 meeting in Brussels at which NATO defense ministers are expected to discuss the establishment of a network of small command centers that could rapidly reinforce the region in the event of any threat from Russia, decide on the makeup of a new rapid-reaction force, and agree to expand a corps-level headquarters in western Poland.
He said the moves were a response to Russia's "violations of international law," including the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March.
Stoltenberg said that "all practical cooperation" between NATO and Russia remains suspended and that a planned meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a February 6-8 security conference in Munich would be part of an effort to keep "channels for dialogue" open.
News flashes by our News Desk from NATO:
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says moves such as the creation of spearhead force are a defensive response to Russia's "aggressive actions."
He urges Russia to use "all its influence" with separatists in eastern Ukraine to prompt them to respect a much-violated September cease-fire agreement.
He says "all practical cooperation" with Russia remains suspended, meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov at upcoming Munich security conference would be part of effort to keep "channels for dialogue" open.
From Reuters:
The UN aviation agency is hoping to open a new route for commercial aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea that will be managed by Ukraine and without "interference" from Russia.
In an interview with Reuters, Raymond Benjamin said the International Civil Aviation Organization is in talks to open new flight paths over parts of the Black Sea, closed to air traffic last year due to conflict in the region.
Reuters reported on February 2 that Ukraine and Russia were in indirect talks on a deal that would allow air traffic to resume in international airspace over the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
That airspace, managed by Ukraine, is off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula, which was forcibly annexed by Russia last year.
Benjamin declined to identify the exact location of the new route.
Russia's ICAO delegation did not respond to requests for comment.
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
NATO defense ministers are due to expand the alliance's presence in Eastern Europe by setting up a network of small command centers that could rapidly reinforce the region in the event of any threat from Russia.
At their meeting in Brussels on February 5, ministers will also decide on the makeup of a new rapid reaction force and agree to expand a corps-level headquarters in western Poland as part of a plan to bolster NATO's eastern flank in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
The U.S. ambassador to NATO, Douglas Lute, said NATO flags would fly over the Polish headquarters and the six command centers in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and the three Baltic states, where the alliance has had little presence until now.
"These will be the first seven NATO flags in Eastern Europe," he told a news conference in Brussels on February 4.
By RFE/RL's News Desk:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is scheduled to hold talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on February 5.
The meeting in Kyiv comes amid reports that Washington may be close to reversing its policy not to arm Ukraine in its fight against pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country.
Washington has so far only provided "nonlethal" assistance to Ukraine, like night-vision goggles and radios.
U.S. President Barack Obama's pick to run the Pentagon said that he's inclined to support lethal weapons transfers to Kyiv.
Ashton Carter made the remarks on February 4 before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Poroshenko has said his military badly needs lethal aid to help repel the separatist attacks in the conflict that has killed more than 5,300 people.
This ends our live-blogging for February 4. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.
The OSCE's monitoring mission is calling for a truce: