北約外長討論更強硬應對克里米亞危機方案

NATO foreign ministers meet in Brussels Tuesday to talk about a stronger response to Russia's takeover of Ukraine's Crimea region.

This is the first senior-level NATO gathering since the crisis in Ukraine began last month.

So far, NATO has increased air patrols over the Baltics and the United States is planning more intense military exercises with Poland.

Diplomats say the ministers could decide to step up NATO military exercises or possibly set up permanent bases in Eastern Europe, closer to the Russian border.

Russia pulled back hundreds of troops from its border with Ukraine, Monday, but tens of thousands still remain.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that the Russian forces are creating a "climate of fear" inside Ukraine.北約成員國外長星期二在布魯塞爾舉行會議，商討如何對俄羅斯併吞烏克蘭克里米亞地區做出更強硬的反應。

自烏克蘭的這場危機於上月爆發以來，這是北約首次舉行高層會議。

到目前爲止，北約加強了在巴爾幹地區的空中巡邏，同時美國計劃與波蘭舉行力度更大的軍演。

外交官們說，北約外長們可能決定擴大北約軍演規模，也可能決定在更靠近俄羅斯邊界的東歐地區設立永久性基地。

俄羅斯星期一將數百軍人撤離烏克蘭邊界附近地區，但該地區仍駐有數萬俄羅斯軍隊。

美國國務卿克里曾對俄羅斯外長拉夫羅夫表示，俄羅斯軍隊在烏克蘭造成“恐怖氣氛”。