From Interfax: Gen. Nikolai Makarov, the chief of staff of the Russian Armed Forces, is expected to take part in the NATO-Russia Council meeting in Brussels on January 26, Col. Alexei Kuznetsov, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, told Interfax on Wednesday.

“Nikolai Makarov plans to take part in this meeting,” Kuznetsov said.

This will be the first time a Russian chief of staff has taken part in a NATO-Russia Council meeting since August 2008. (photo: AP)