NATO nations strengthen their defenses in Eastern Europe

NATO sends more warships and warplanes to the east. The United States and the United Kingdom have reduced their embassy staff in Kyiv as a ‘precautionary measure’. Pledge of support for Austria-Ukraine.

Given the tensions between Ukraine and Russia, NATO member states need to strengthen their military presence in Eastern Europe. NATO troops will be on standby and still be stationed on warships, and warships and warplanes will be sent east, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday. Meanwhile, the United States and Great Britain are reducing their embassy in Kiev.

“NATO will take all necessary steps to protect and defend our allies. This will strengthen the eastern part of our alliance,” Stoltenberg continued. Ukraine is not a NATO member, but many of its western neighbors.

Russia later accused the military alliance of aggravating the situation. “Pressure is mounting in the United States on NATO announcements and concrete actions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Bezov told reporters in Moscow on Monday. Bezov warned of a “very high” risk of a Ukrainian offensive against pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has issued an urgent appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin against the invasion of Ukraine. “For the Kremlin, it must be very clear to Russia that it will be a catastrophic move,” Johnson visited Milton Keynes University Hospital. From a Russian perspective, this is a “painful, violent and bloody affair,” the prime minister warned.

Debate on American soldiers in Ukraine

US President Joe Biden discussed the crisis with his security team in Moscow over the weekend. Over the weekend, the US government did not hesitate to strengthen NATO forces in Eastern Europe. That includes options to send 1,000 to 5,000 troops to Eastern European countries, if the situation worsens, the New York Times reports.

When asked on Sunday whether the United States would send U.S. troops to Ukraine in the event of an invasion, US Secretary of State Blinken escaped. NATO will continue to be strengthened if Russia engages in renewed occupation, he said. Biden had previously refused to send US troops to Ukraine. The United States supports Ukraine with military supplies. According to the Pentagon, less than 200 military personnel are currently detained in Ukraine from the Florida National Guard.

“Precautionary measures”: Less diplomatic staff

Meanwhile, emergency workers are withdrawing from Kiev, Washington and London. The foreign ministries announced that relatives of the embassies were forced to leave the country. A senior State Department official said the US embassy’s actions were a precautionary measure. When asked why this decision was made now at all times, the ministry warned last week that the ministry could invade Russia and Ukraine at any time.

In contrast, the EU currently has no reason to allow embassy staff and diplomatic staff to leave Ukraine. “I do not think we should make a drama out of it,” EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borel said on Monday. EU Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brussels, Any US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will also be included. As long as talks with Russia are ongoing, he does not think it is necessary to leave Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Annalane Barbach stressed that German embassy staff and their families would be in Kiev. BaerBock says the situation is definitely being assessed before EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels. Employee safety is a “priority”. However, there should not be any uncertainty in the situation in Ukraine, which will have a negative impact on investment.

Ukraine called for a reduction in US embassy staff in Kiev “with extreme caution”. “We are anticipating such actions by the US side,” the foreign ministry said in the capital, Kiev, on Monday. The security situation “has not fundamentally changed”.

Nehammer pledged support

Chancellor Carl Neymar (övp) has confirmed that the Ukrainian prime minister is a scrimmage of Austria’s support, considering tensions with Russia. According to a broadcast, the phone call on Monday was to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and to expand cooperation in the areas of renewable energy sources and green technologies.

President Neymar stressed that “Austria is a friend and partner of Ukraine. We especially support political, economic and humanitarian assistance. We support close cooperation between Ukraine and the EU and the continuation of ambitious reforms. We are concerned. We are closely monitoring the situation. Russia should not violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine under any circumstances. If this happens, there will be a clear European response. ” Further. President Neymar also promised to visit Ukraine in the first half of the year.

For his part, Schmyhal reiterated a key bilateral option: “I hope that Austria will soon be the next country to support Ukraine’s European perspective on a bilateral basis. The relevant agreement will be signed during the meeting with the President of Ukraine,” he said. A government broadcast in loud Kiev. He noted the Ukrainian plans for Europe as the central supplier of environmentally friendly hydrogen and hoped for Austrian support in its implementation, the Ukrainian Prime Minister added.

Deployment of Russian troops

With a large Russian troop stationed near Ukraine, there are fears in the West that the Kremlin may be planning an invasion of its neighbor. However, when demands for new security guarantees are put forward, it is also possible that fears are being raised only to force NATO countries to make concessions. For example, Russia’s declared goal is to prevent NATO from expanding further east and withdrawing its armed forces from the eastern allies. NATO and the EU reject these demands as unacceptable.

(APA / dpa)