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The US has positioned about 8,500 troops on standby for potential deployment to central and jap Europe to assist shore up Nato’s defences as western leaders gathered to cement a unified response to the specter of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“At the same time as we proceed to prioritise diplomacy and dialogue, we should additionally improve readiness in help of its obligations to the safety and defence of Nato and the safety of its residents overseas,” John Kirby, Pentagon spokesperson, mentioned throughout a briefing on Monday.
“On the path of the president and following suggestions made by secretary [Lloyd] Austin, the USA has taken steps to intensify the readiness of its forces at residence and overseas,” he added. “They’re ready to reply to a spread of contingencies, together with help to the Nato Response Drive, whether it is activated.”
No determination had but been made on whether or not to deploy the troops, Kirby famous. The multinational Nato response power, if it was activated, would contain the deployment of as much as 40,000 personnel.
The Pentagon’s announcement got here simply earlier than president Joe Biden was because of maintain a video convention name from the White Home state of affairs room with western leaders to co-ordinate the response to a Russian assault on Ukraine that’s feared could possibly be imminent.
Western international locations have been discussing a bundle of financial and monetary sanctions to be imposed on Russia in addition to army assist to Kyiv and the deployment of troops, plane and warships to defend Nato allies in jap and central Europe.
In accordance the White Home, the decision was anticipated to contain Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, Olaf Scholz, German chancellor, Emmanuel Macron, French president, Andrzej Duda, Poland’s prime minister and Mario Draghi, Italian prime minister, in addition to EU leaders and the Nato secretary-general.
The digital assembly of western leaders follows days of escalating warnings that an invasion by Russia could possibly be imminent, together with a British alert that Moscow was plotting to put in a pro-Kremlin puppet authorities in Ukraine.
In an ominous assertion, Johnson mentioned on Monday that there was proof of Russian plans “for a lightning struggle that would take out” the Ukrainian capital, which might be “painful, violent and bloody enterprise” for Moscow. “I feel it’s crucial that individuals in Russia perceive that this could possibly be a brand new Chechnya,” he mentioned.
Britain on Monday ordered a variety of its embassy employees and members of the family to go away Ukraine. The transfer got here after the US on Sunday instructed members of the family of its embassy employees to go away Kyiv due to the chance of “important army motion” by Russia.
Regardless of the rising drumbeat of army battle, western diplomats have continued to emphasize {that a} diplomatic resolution remains to be a chance. Antony Blinken, secretary of state, mentioned the US would ship written responses to Russian calls for within the coming days, which may ease tensions and supply the premise for a settlement.
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