NATO strengthens east European flank, Russia accuses West of hysteria

NATO mentioned on Monday it was placing forces on standby and reinforcing jap Europe with extra ships and fighter jets, in what Russia denounced as an escalation of tensions over Ukraine.
Welcoming a collection of deployments introduced by alliance members in latest days, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg mentioned NATO would “continue to take all necessary measures to protect and defend all allies, including by reinforcing the eastern part of the alliance.”
The transfer was an extra signal that the West is bracing for Russia to assault its neighbour after massing an estimated 100,000 troops in attain of the Ukrainian border.

Russia denies planning an invasion. But, having engineered the disaster by surrounding Ukraine with forces from the north, east and south, Moscow is now citing the Western response as proof to assist its narrative that Russia is the goal, not the instigator, of aggression.
Denmark, Spain, France and the Netherlands have been all planning or contemplating sending troops, planes or ships to jap Europe, NATO mentioned. Ukraine shares borders with 4 NATO nations: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.
“The United States has also made clear that it is considering increasing its military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance,” it mentioned.
U.S. officers mentioned the Pentagon was finalising efforts to determine particular items that might deploy.
The United States is contemplating sending hundreds of extra troops to NATO’s jap flank, two U.S. officers instructed Reuters. One of the officers mentioned as much as 5,000 could possibly be deployed.
A NATO diplomat instructed Reuters that Washington was contemplating regularly transferring some troops stationed in western Europe to Eastern Europe within the coming weeks. learn extra
A Polish official mentioned Warsaw would, nevertheless, draw the road at sending troops to Ukraine.
In an indication of concern concerning the state of affairs, Britain mentioned it was withdrawing some employees and dependants from its embassy in Ukraine, a day after the United States mentioned it was ordering diplomats’ relations to go away. U.S. diplomats have been being allowed to go away voluntarily. learn extra
“HYSTERIA”?
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the West of “hysteria” and placing out data “laced with lies”.
“As for specific actions, we see statements by the North Atlantic Alliance about reinforcement, pulling forces and resources to the eastern flank. All this leads to the fact that tensions are growing,” he mentioned.
“This is not happening because of what we, Russia, are doing. This is all happening because of what NATO and the U.S. are doing and due to the information they are spreading.”
Global inventory markets skidded because the prospect of a Russian assault quashed demand for riskier belongings equivalent to bitcoin, and bolstered the greenback and oil. The rouble hit a 14-month low towards the greenback, and Russian shares and bonds tumbled. learn extra
Russia has used its troop build-up to attract the West into discussions after presenting calls for to redraw Europe’s safety map. It desires NATO by no means to confess Ukraine and to drag again troops and weapons from former Communist nations in jap Europe that joined it after the Cold War.
Washington says these calls for are non-starters however is able to focus on different concepts on arms management, missile deployments and confidence-building measures.
Russia is awaiting a written U.S. response this week after talks final Friday – the fourth spherical this month – produced no breakthrough.
“PAINFUL, VIOLENT AND BLOODY”
Asked whether or not he thought an invasion was imminent, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson instructed broadcasters that intelligence was “pretty gloomy on this point” however that “sense can still prevail.”
He repeated Western warnings that invading Ukraine could be “a painful, violent and bloody business” for Russia. learn extra
The United States and the European Union, cautious of Russia’s intentions because it seized Crimea and backed separatists combating authorities forces in jap Ukraine in 2014, have instructed Russia it should face crippling penalties if it assaults once more.
EU international ministers assembly in Brussels warned Russia it will face “massive” penalties, however are divided over how powerful to be on Moscow and didn’t say what the results could be. learn extra
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy instructed EU President Charles Michel by cellphone that it was necessary for Kyiv that the EU confirmed unity.
“Ukraine will not fall for provocations, and together with its partners, will remain calm and restrained,” his workplace mentioned.

The European Commission, the EU government physique, proposed a 1.2-billion euro ($1.36-billion) monetary help bundle to assist Ukraine mitigate the results of the battle with Russia. learn extra
A Russian delegation supply mentioned political advisers from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany would meet in Paris on Wednesday for talks on resolving the battle in jap Ukraine, by which some 15,000 folks have been killed since 2014. Previous efforts have didn’t yield any breakthrough.
Several nations, together with France, Norway and Latvia, have suggested towards non-essential journey to Ukraine.