TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia have agreed to a meeting to discuss Ukraine crisis. A meeting in Brussels, Belgium, will take place today, remarking the first meeting between NATO and the Russians since Crimea standoff began last week.
Prior to today's meeting, Poland had called for a meeting among NATO members on Tuesday. In the meeting, NATO declared that Russian force in Ukraine has caused a serious implication to Euro-Atlantic's security and stability.
Crimea region became Ukraine's territory in 1954, during Nikita Khrushchev of Soviet's era. The coast of Crimea hosts Sevastapol, a home for the Black Sea Russian Armada. Despite the fact that Crimean residents are mostly Russian-speaking citizens, the region is also a home for Tatar Moslems, known for their treachery stints against Russia.
Since last week, at least 16,000 Russian troops have entered Crimea. In previous reportings, Russian envoy for the UN Vitaly Churkin stated that the intervention was to answer the Ukrainian ousted President Yanukovych' request, as well as to protect Russian assets in the area.
AL JAZEERA | CORNILA DESYANA
