NATO on Monday said that it was deploying forces on standby and reinforcing eastern Europe with more ships and fighter aircraft. Russia, on other hand, has criticized this move as Western hysteria.
Tensions have soared after Russia deployed an estimated 100000 soldiers near borders surrounding Ukraine from north, east, and south. Russia, however, denies planning any invasion and Moscow has cited Western response as proof that the country is the target, and not the initiator of the ongoing aggression.
A growing concern that Russia could soon make a military move on Ukraine prompted the Pentagon to place 8500 troops on higher alert Monday for a potential deployment to Europe as part of a NATO response force. US President Joe Biden discussed with key European leaders, emphasizing US solidarity with allies there.
Biden’s decision to put US troops on heightened alert for Europe appears to diminish hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from the threat to invade Ukraine, something he described in his remarks.
