NATO: Russian forces are redeploying and regrouping in Ukraine
Xinhua News Agency, Brussels, March 31 (Reporter Ren Ke) NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg said on March 31 that Russian troops in Ukraine are being redeployed and assembled to prepare for a new offensive in the Donbas region.
Stoltenberg said at a press conference on the 2021 annual report held on the same day that Russia recently announced that it would reduce its military activities around Kyiv and northern Ukraine. According to NATO intelligence, the Russian army is not retreating, but redeploying. .
The Russian army is trying to regroup and get supplies to strengthen its offensive in the Donbas region.
At the same time, the Russian army still maintains pressure on cities such as Kyiv, which means that the Russian army may launch more attacks.
Stoltenberg said he welcomed all efforts aimed at ending the military conflict, including recent talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey.
He called on Russia to end its military operations, withdraw all troops and start a dialogue in good faith.
Stoltenberg said that NATO has increased its support for Ukraine in recent years, providing training for the Ukrainian army, providing modern equipment and supporting its reform.
The Ukrainian army is now larger and better equipped than ever before.
Stoltenberg also said NATO felt a "new sense of urgency" and was facing "a new security reality".
NATO will take further steps to implement the "NATO Agenda 2030" at the Madrid summit in June this year, and will develop a new strategic vision that will serve as NATO's guiding document for the next decade.
In addition, Stoltenberg said in the 2021 annual report released on the same day that the defense budget of NATO European allies and Canada has increased for the seventh consecutive year, an increase of 3.1% compared with 2020, and a total increase of about 270 billion US dollars since 2014. .