NATO is increasing its military presence in Eastern Europe due to the fact that Russia allegedly "continues to build up its military presence on the territory of Ukraine and near it."

This is stated in the message on the website of the alliance.

“NATO Allies are putting forces on alert and deploying additional ships and fighters to NATO deployment sites in Eastern Europe, thus strengthening Allied deterrence and defense capabilities,” the NATO website says. 

The report states that Denmark is sending a frigate to the Baltic Sea, and the state also intends to send four F-16 fighters to Lithuania.

In turn, Spain is also sending additional ships to strengthen the alliance's navy and is considering sending fighters to Bulgaria.

For its part, France announced its readiness to send troops under NATO command to Romania.

The Netherlands will send two F-35 fighter jets to Bulgaria and put NATO ground forces on standby.

In addition, according to the alliance, the US has also signaled that it is considering increasing its military presence on the eastern flank of the military bloc.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also commented on the strengthening of NATO's presence in Eastern Europe.

“I applaud the efforts of allies to provide additional forces to NATO.

NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to protect all allies, including by strengthening the eastern part of the alliance.

We will always respond to any deterioration in our security situation, in particular by strengthening our collective defense," Stoltenberg said on the NATO website.  

In a RT commentary, the ex-Ambassador of India to Russia, Kanwal Sibal, noted that the current situation was created by the West, which is forcing Ukraine's rapprochement with NATO.  

“I think it's playing with fire. The main issue here is the expansion of NATO at the expense of Ukraine. If you solve this problem, everything else will fall into place. I have always wondered why Finland and Sweden did not join NATO during the Cold War, when the USSR was very strong and when the threat from it was felt around the world, and to this day they are still not members of NATO? So why can't an understanding be reached regarding Ukraine? Why is the West, and in particular the United States, promoting alliance membership for Ukraine? If a fundamental understanding is reached on this issue, then, as it seems to me, there will be no need for all the other ongoing events. (Because of them only) tensions and conflicts will increase, which will lead to dire consequences for the rest of the world, including for our country, ”- said the Indian diplomat. 

In turn, the head of the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis, Alexander Mikhailov, believes that the strengthening of NATO's presence in Eastern Europe can be considered a kind of "response" to Russia's proposals for security guarantees.

“This is a direct increase in rates and a very negative trend, because instead of resolving issues aimed at a voluntary bilateral transition to more peaceful relations and the creation of a peaceful space in Europe, we see only the concentration of NATO forces and new arms supplies to Ukraine,” noted the interlocutor of RT.

Escape from Kiev

At the same time, the situation around a possible “invasion” of Russia into Ukraine continues to be aggravated by the US State Department.

Thus, the American diplomatic mission in Minsk issued a warning to US citizens calling for increased vigilance and caution in connection with the situation around Ukraine.

“Disturbing reports continue to be received about further unusual activities of the Russian armed forces near the borders of Ukraine, including on the border with Belarus,” the embassy website said in a statement.

It also notes that U.S. citizens are "advised to avoid large demonstrations and regularly review possible departure plans in the event of an emergency."

At the same time, the US State Department ordered the families of the embassy employees in Kiev and part of the staff to leave the country.

This was announced by a representative of the department at a press briefing.

  • US Embassy in Kiev

  • AFP

  • © Sergei Supinsky

The functionary of the department explained that the departure for the employees of the embassy in Kiev, performing non-critical tasks, is voluntary, while family members are required to leave Ukraine.

The representative of the US State Department said that this decision was made in connection with "Russia's attempts to destabilize the country." 

It is worth noting that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called this decision “premature”.

“Respecting the right of foreign states to ensure the security of their diplomatic missions, we consider such a step by the American side to be premature,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It is worth noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine mentioned some kind of disinformation, which is aimed at undermining the internal stability of the country.

“A large amount of misinformation, manipulation and fakes are being spread in the Ukrainian and international media space in order to sow panic among Ukrainians and foreigners, frighten businesses, and undermine the economic and financial stability of our state.

In this situation, it is important to soberly assess the risks and remain calm, ”the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a comment.

Vladimir Batyuk, chief researcher at the Institute for the USA and Canada, in a conversation with RT noted that the actions of the US State Department are not adequate to the situation that has now developed in the region.

“Neither in Ukraine, nor, moreover, on the territory of Belarus, nothing fundamentally changed.

On the territory of Ukraine, if any problems may arise for the life, health, property of American citizens, it is as a result of some internal Ukrainian processes, but again there is nothing new here, ”the political scientist emphasized.

american amplification

Shortly before NATO announced its increased presence in Eastern Europe, US media reported that the Biden administration was also considering sending additional troops to the region.

The New York Times was the first to report this, citing "informed sources", after which other publications and TV channels disseminated similar information.

Thus, the Fox News channel reported that a military contingent of up to 5,000 people could be sent to Eastern Europe.

“As part of a broader NATO effort, the president is considering sending 3,000 to 5,000 US troops to Romania, as well as to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia,” the channel notes.

In turn, The New York Times notes that Joe Biden may decide to send the military to these countries this week.

Recall that over the past few months, Western countries have been aggravating the situation around Ukraine, declaring some kind of "aggression" that Russia is allegedly planning against it.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that the Russian Federation has no such intentions, but Western media and politicians continue to heat up the situation around the allegedly planned "invasion".

“So far, such statements about the additional entry of American armed forces into Eastern Europe have remained talk.

Apparently, this is one of the elements of the American response in the event of a hypothetical Russian “invasion” of Ukraine, but since there is no invasion, then, accordingly, there is nothing to answer, ”Vladimir Batyuk emphasized.

At the same time, the continued supply of weapons and military assistance to Ukraine from the West creates a rather dangerous situation, the political scientist added.

“Thus, the United States and its allies create illusions among Ukrainian leaders that the West will always support them, no matter what they do there.

This may lead to the fact that the authorities in Kiev may make the same mistake that Saakashvili already made in August 2008,” the expert emphasized.

  • AP

  • © Senior Airman Taylor Crul/US Air Force

Alexander Mikhailov, in a conversation with RT, emphasized that instead of responding to the proposals of the Russian Federation to create mutually beneficial security guarantees in Europe, the United States and NATO only intensified the spread of the narrative about the “invasion” allegedly being prepared for Ukraine, including to justify Kiev’s actual refusal to implement the Minsk agreements .

“This formula is extremely unpleasant and has no legal basis.

But the Americans wanted to spit on international law, they themselves change it on the go.

The strengthening of NATO will definitely not add stability to the region, since Eastern Europe has become a zone of increased geopolitical tension, ”the expert concluded.