NATO postpones talks with Ukraine regarding missile defense system

NATO has postponed its plans to begin negotiations with Ukraine on the alliance's missile defense system, according to The Wall Street Journal.

"The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has shelved a plan to meet with Ukrainian officials about the alliance's missile-defense system, Western officials said, a new sign the alliance is trying to avoid provoking Russia," the newspaper writes.

According to it, NATO had considered meeting with Ukraine to discuss the matter. "The decision not to meet with Ukraine comes as the alliance is at an awkward moment with Russia," the article reads.

Inside the alliance, diplomats are discussing ways to expand dialogue with Russia, while some officials expect U.S. President Donald Trump to seek to have the alliance cooperate more with Moscow, the article said.

However, an escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine is complicating efforts in Brussels and Washington to recalibrate relations with Russia, the newspaper said.

"Violence has grown in recent days in the Donbas region of Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian government troops since 2014," the article reads.

A NATO diplomat told The Wall Street Journal the decision didn't close off future discussions with Ukraine. But the alliance is moving carefully, given Russia's history of using any development in the missile-defense system to ignite controversy.

"There is some political sensitivity in the engagement of Ukraine because obviously that could fuel an overreaction by the Russians," the diplomat said.