NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is scheduled to hold a special meeting of allied ambassadors and high-ranking Russian officials next week to prevent open conflict over Ukraine. 

The meeting has been requested by both sides. Russia is building up its troops at the Ukrainian border, making threats for invasion. 

The meeting of the council, a format used for dialogue since 2002, will be held in Brussels on January 12 after US and Russian officials hold security talks on January 10 in Geneva.