Russia to be main focus of NATO foreign ministers meeting

NATO foreign ministers are scheduled to meet this week to discuss a range of issues, including the Russian military build-up near the Ukrainian border.

The meeting, chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, will take place in Latvia's capital Riga on Nov. 30 - Dec. 1.

The meeting is expected to focus on Russia following the recent military build-up of Moscow near the Ukrainian border.

NATO officials openly state that the Russian military activities in Crimea, which was illegally annexed in 2014, and around the Ukrainian border raise serious questions.

At a press briefing held last week, Stoltenberg said: "Russia must show transparency, reduce tensions and de-escalate.”

Referring to the upcoming meeting, he said the ministers will also talk about the migration crisis on the border with Belarus, which he called “a cynical exploitation of vulnerable people to put pressure on our allies Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.”