Europe 1 with AFP 1:24 p.m., February 19, 2022, modified at 1:26 p.m., February 19, 2022
US Vice President Kamala Harris threatened on Saturday to strengthen NATO forces in eastern Europe in the event of an attack on Ukraine by Russia, and warned Moscow that it would expose itself to "severe and rapid" economic sanctions.
US Vice President Kamala Harris threatened on Saturday to strengthen NATO forces in eastern Europe in the event of an attack on Ukraine by Russia, and warned Moscow that it would expose itself to "severe and rapid" economic sanctions.
“We will strengthen our NATO allies”
"We will not stop at economic measures. We will further strengthen our NATO allies on the eastern flank," she said during a speech at the Munich Security Conference.
The United States says it believes Russia wants to invade Ukraine imminently as clashes on the frontline with pro-Russian separatist territories escalate.
The Kremlin continues to deny any intention of attacking its neighbour, but is demanding guarantees for Russia's security, such as the withdrawal of NATO from Eastern Europe, which the West clearly refuses.
"Russia narrows the path of diplomacy"
"Russia continues to say it is ready to negotiate. While at the same time, it is reducing the path of diplomacy," accused Ms. Harris, stressing that the troop withdrawals announced by the Kremlin did "not correspond to reality" .
The United States has already deployed some 6,000 additional military personnel in Romania, Poland and Germany, she recalled.
Our forces "will not be deployed to fight in Ukraine", which is not a member of the Atlantic alliance, but "they will defend every inch of NATO territory", she warned.