WASHINGTON: The United States said on Wednesday that it was sending thousands of troops to eastern Europe to strengthen NATO forces in response to worries that Russia may attack Ukraine.
Russia has set up over 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine. “Severe repercussions” have been declared by Western leaders if Russia invades Ukraine. According to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, 1,000 US troops in Germany would deploy to Romania, and 2,000 based in the United States would be sent to Germany and Poland.
To send a coherent message to President Vladimir Putin and the rest of the world that NATO matters to the United States, Kirby said, “We must send a powerful signal.” In a statement, he said, “These soldiers have not been sent to fight in Ukraine, but to assist NATO.”
As per USA officials, fighting in Ukraine is not a long-term plan and these forces will adapt to the ongoing situation.
A senior Kremlin official emphasised that Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, shared views on global security as Nato leaders worked to prevent an invasion of pro-Western Ukraine. Vladimir Putin has accused the West of failing to heed Russia’s security concerns, while Russia denies any ambitions to attack its neighbouring country.
When Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing for the Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony this week, he stated that China will clearly defend Russia’s position. Kremlin chief foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov told reporters that China “backs” Russian calls for security assurances.
A prohibition on Ukraine joining Nato and the deployment of missile systems near Russia’s borders, as well as a reduction in the US-led military alliance’s forces in eastern Europe, are among the demands made by Russian officials.
Putin hinted on Tuesday that Washington was using Kyiv as a tool to potentially draw Moscow into a conflict.
In order to attain this purpose, Putin remarked, “Ukraine itself is only an instrument.”
He said that he hoped that “in the end we would come up with a solution.” Moscow’s requests have been met with formal answers from the United States and NATO, which Putin has stated he is reviewing.
El Pais released this secret correspondence from Washington and Nato on Wednesday, which claimed to be a copy of the original letter. Plans stress that Ukraine and any other nation can apply to join the alliance, regardless of their size.
“Reciprocal agreements by both the United States and Russia aim to not put offensive ground-launched missile systems and permanent forces with a combat purpose on the territory of Ukraine,” according to reports. As part of the alliance’s display of solidarity for Ukraine, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte visited Kiev and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He claimed Ukraine was focused “only on peace,” but emphasised that the country had a right to defend itself. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson the day before he was scheduled to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Washington reports Russia is planning to send 30,000 troops to Belarus for joint military drills, which has exacerbated tensions.
Kirby emphasised that “war is not inevitable,” but he accused Putin of continuing to “destabilise the situation” by increasing his military presence in the western region of Russia and Belarus. Tanks were seen whizzing over Belarusian snowfields and helicopters were seen soaring overhead as military personnel from Russia and Belarus prepared for the February 10-20 training.
A year after Russia took the Crimea, Ukraine has been fighting Moscow-supported insurgencies in two rebel areas.
War in Europe has claimed the lives of over 13,000 individuals since it began in 1914.
