Several NATO members including the United States and Britain have condemned Russia's retaliation against Georgia's offensive in breakaway South Ossetia as "disproportionate." Georgia has been seeking to join the Western military alliance since its pro-Western leadership took power in 2003.
"NATO has agreed to our request for an emergency meeting of the Russia-NATO Council in Brussels," a Russian mission spokesperson said.
The meeting is expected to follow talks between Russia-NATO Council envoys and Georgia's foreign minister.
Georgia launched a major ground and air offensive to seize control over South Ossetia on Friday, which according to Russia left around 2,000 civilians dead. The attacks prompted Russia to send in tanks and hundreds of troops. The capital of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, has been virtually destroyed in the violence, and tens of thousands of residents have been left homeless.
