NATO set to create new joint units in eastern Europe

Russian troops stand after a training exercise in the village of Nikinci, west from Belgrade, November 14, 2014.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO defence ministers are expected to agree next week to set up command units, staffed with national and NATO soldiers, in six eastern European allies as part of a new strategy in response to the Ukraine crisis, NATO's chief said on Friday.

Creating the units in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and the three Baltic countries is one of the most concrete steps NATO has taken to show that the alliance will protect its eastern allies, some of which are nervous about Russian intentions following Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region.