This Monday the Pentagon put 8,500 soldiers on high alert for a possible shipment to reinforce the alliance.
US President Joe Biden said Friday that his country will soon deploy a certain number of troops to NATO member countries and Eastern Europe.
“I will move US troops to Eastern Europe and NATO countries in the short term. Not many,” Biden told reporters upon landing outside Washington after visiting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, according to NBC.
Four days earlier, this Monday, the Pentagon put 8,500 soldiers on high alert for a possible shipment to reinforce the alliance. However, then the US Defense spokesman, John Kirby, assured that no decision had been made about the deployment.
So far, NATO has based some 4,000 soldiers in multinational battalions in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, backed by tanks, air defenses and intelligence and surveillance units .
Speculation about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine has intensified in the West after several media outlets published alleged plans for the operation in November. For its part, Russia repeatedly dismissed as false and unfounded the accusations that it was preparing an alleged provocation in Ukraine.
Over the past week, the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly stated that they do not see any threat of attack from Russia. On Monday, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov stated that information from the Ukrainian intelligence service and its partners indicates that Russia has not deployed any assault group that demonstrates its intention to carry out an offensive the next day.
Meanwhile, Washington insists that the threat of a Russian invasion remains. Thus, the spokeswoman for the White House, Jen Psaki, declared on Tuesday that Washington observed “aggressive actions and preparations” for an attack on the border between the two countries. In turn, US Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman declared on Wednesday that Washington sees “all indications” that Russia plans to use its Armed Forces against Ukraine by mid-February.
