NATO, Russia to discuss Ukraine Wednesday

NATO will hold a meeting with the Russian ambassador to the U.S.-led military alliance on Wednesday, just one day after a second emergency gathering on the Ukraine crisis.

"There will be an NRC tomorrow at ambassadorial level. We expect it will take place in the afternoon," a NATO spokesman said when asked about a possible meeting of the NATO-Russia Council.

NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen had suggested the meeting Monday.

The NRC is the official forum for discussions and contacts between NATO and its one-time Cold War foe. It is regularly convened, for example during alliance foreign minister gatherings.

On Tuesday, the 28 NATO member ambassadors met to discuss the situation after Poland requested "article 4" consultations with its allies, citing a threat to its security.

This meeting was convened because "developments in and around Ukraine are seen to constitute a threat to neighboring allied countries and having direct and serious implications for the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area," Rasmussen said on Monday.

"Under article 4 of the Treaty, any ally can request consultations whenever, in the opinion of any of them, their territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened," a statement said.

Article 4 meetings are quite rare but have been held most recently on Turkey's fears of spillover from the bloody conflict in Syria.