De Hoop Scheffer wanted to meet Lavrov to discuss "how to approach the debate on the Ukraine", an official with the transatlantic military alliance said on condition of anonymity.

Lavrov clashed with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was to attend a NATO meeting here Thursday, at a conference in Bulgaria Tuesday over tensions between Russia and the West over the political crisis in Ukraine.

Powell and Lavrov were to meet again on Thursday morning when NATO holds regular talks with Russia on the sidelines of a meeting of alliance foreign ministers.

The NATO-Russia meeting is expected to sign a joint action plan on counter-terrorism, pledging cooperation against international militancy, officials said.

The two sides were also expected to formally agree to Russia's participation in anti-terrorism patrols of the Mediterranean Sea launched by NATO after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Russia is due to send two vessels to join the NATO patrols in the first such joint operation between the former Cold War foes.

De Hoop Scheffer and Lavrov were expected to meet Wednesday night after dinner talks between ministers from NATO, Israel and six Arab countries, the official said.

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