It was all smiles before a meeting among NATO member states in Brussels on Tuesday.

But behind the handshakes and the helloes, Foreign Ministers from 28 member nations were bracing to decide Russia's fate in the North Atlantic security alliance.

At issue, Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN, SAYING:

"Through its actions, Russia has undermined the principles on which our partnership is built, and has breached its own international commitments. So, we cannot go on doing business as usual."

NATO's business with Russia is ended for now.

The alliance voted to suspend all practical cooperation with Russia.

A protest of its actions in Crimea.

Diplomatic communication with Moscow remains open, to find a way out of the crisis.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN, SAYING:

"We are go