Nato mulls response to Russian actions in Ukraine
Nato defence ministers are due to discuss for the first time the long-term security implications of Russian actions over Ukraine.
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The talks in Brussels will also focus on what action Nato member states should take in response.
Relations between Nato and Moscow plummeted after Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in March.
On Monday, Russia's envoy to the bloc threatened to end a long-standing co-operation treaty with Nato.
A senior Nato official quoted by AFP news agency said defence ministers would be making "fundamental decisions" regarding Russia that would go before Nato leaders at a September summit in the UK.
Officials said there had been a "frank exchange of views" a during a meeting of the Nato-Russia Council, which groups ambassadors from the 28 member states and Russia, on Monday.
Nato states "repeated their very strong and clear position on the illegal and illegitimate annexation" of Crimea, alliance spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said.
They hailed the recent presidential election in Ukraine "as a clear vote for the unity of Ukraine and called on Russia to engage constructively with the newly elected president", she added.
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Nato also called on Russia "to respect its international commitments, to stop the flow of arms and weapons across the border, to stop supporting armed separatists in Ukraine", she said.