TBILISI, Georgia: In the face of growing aggression by Russia, the US and Georgia moved Sunday to expand their defense relationship — including the possible sale of US Black Hawk helicopters to the former Soviet bloc nation at the crossroads of eastern Europe and Asia.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s move to annex the Crimea region of Ukraine has further isolated Moscow.

“It has done a tremendous amount to coalesce NATO and Europe to come together recognizing what President Putin’s actions have wrought, the danger that that represents to all of Europe,” Hagel said during a press conference with Georgia’s defense minister.

Ukraine and Russia signed a cease-fire two days ago, but there have been explosions near the airport in Donetsk, raising concerns the agreement may be on the verge of collapse.

Hagel’s meetings here come on the heels of the NATO summit in Wales where allies agreed to expand Georgia’s role as a NATO partner and reaffirm a longer-term effort to admit the former Soviet republic into the alliance.