BRUSSELS, Feb 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance was deploying its rapid response force for the first time ever to bolster defences in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“It is still a fluid situation. What we have seen is that the Ukrainian forces are fighting bravely and are actually able to inflict damage on the invading Russian forces,” Stoltenberg said after a video summit of NATO leaders.
“It is a full invasion of Ukraine. They are moving towards Kyiv and the stated goal is to change the government of Ukraine.”
Stoltenberg’s warned that the Kremlin’s aggression had created a “new normal”, threatening Europe’s broader security beyond non-NATO member Ukraine.
“We have already strengthened our deterrence and defence,” Stoltenberg said.
“Yesterday, allies activated our defence plans and, as a result, we are deploying elements of the NATO Response Force (NRF) on land, at sea, and in the air to further strengthen our posture and to respond quickly to any contingency.”
The step is the latest by NATO aimed at beefing up its defences after allies spearheaded by the United States rushed thousands of troops to eastern members as the Kremlin moved on Ukraine.
“We have over 100 jets at high alert, operating in over 30 different locations and over 120 ships from the high north to the Mediterranean,” Stoltenberg said.
“This is to preserve peace to prevent an attack and to prevent that the war which is going on in Ukraine spills over to any NATO allied country.”
He did not give any details on where the response forces were being sent, saying it was up to NATO’s top military commander.
Created in 2003, the NRF is made up of 40,000 personnel and includes an 8,000-strong high-readiness contingent with air, sea and special operations soldiers that can be deployed within days.
In WASHINGTON, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the United States had troops currently in Europe, plus 7,000 ordered to deploy to German this week, and others on standby at home.
He said which troops and how many depend on the specific needs of NATO.
“Whatever those requirements are… the United States is ready to lean forward as much as possible,” Kirby said.
He stressed the NRF was to protect NATO countries, not to engage in fighting in Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance.
However, he said, the trigger for activating the NRF “has been this unlawful invasion by Russia into Ukraine.”
“We’re going to do what we need to do to defend every inch of NATO territory.” he added.
In PARIS, the army chief of staff said France is to deploy 500 military personnel as part of NATO forces to Romania.
“NATO has decided to reinforce its presence to send a very clear sign of strategic solidarity, to position forces in Romania,” Thierry Burkhard told Radio France Internationale and broadcaster France24.
“We will send around 500 men with armoured vehicles.”
He said France would also maintain a military presence in Estonia, which borders Russia, beyond March.
In view of “the war in Ukraine, it has been decided we will maintain our presence” of 200 to 250 men with armoured vehicles in the Baltic nation, he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron in recent weeks had thrown his energy into diplomacy in an attempt to avert a Russian invasion of Ukraine. — NNN-AGENCIES
- Latest News
- Most View
One held with 865 grams heroin in C’nawabganjFrance to send 500 troops to RomaniaAustralian running great and Bannister rival John Landy diesNATO deploys response force for first timeMoscow says sanctions against Putin, Lavrov a sign of Western ‘impotency’US to impose sanctions on Putin and LavrovUN civil aviation council ‘condemns’ Russian violation of Ukraine airspaceDeadly floods hit eastern AustraliaZelensky accepts Putin’s proposal, ready for peace talksAfrican nations forced to spend on climate adaptation: studyUkrainian and Russian forces fight over capital KyivBerger feasts on home cooking at PGA Honda ClassicHenry, Wagner strike as New Zealand get into South Africa tailKlopp urges Liverpool to seize their chance in League Cup final against ChelseaSouth Africa all out for 364 against New ZealandChina vows cooperation with North Korea under ‘new situation’: KCNAMass vaccination campaign for administering one crore people beginsCuban tobacco yield up in smoke amid fertilizer shortagesUkraine ‘repulsed’ Russian attack on main Kyiv avenueBiden joins emergency NATO session on Russia’s Ukraine invasionAll News
