The Pentagon announced Wednesday that President Joe Biden will order 2,000 U.S. troops to Germany and Poland, and to shift 1,000 more from Germany into Romania. This is to show both allies as well as foes America’s commitment towards NATO’s eastern flank in the face of Russian invasion.
Russia responded with a bluntly stated objection calling the deployments “destructive” and unfounded.
A new telephone conversation was also held between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister. Both governments did not make any progress in their readings. Putin stated that the West would not give up on Russia’s security concerns, while Johnson expressed deep concern over Russia’s “hostile activities” at the Ukrainian border. Johnson was referring to Putin’s deployment of 100,000 troops.
The Biden administration aims to show U.S. resolve while not undermining diplomatic efforts to solve the crisis. Biden has not sent military reinforcements for the three Baltic states on NATO’s east flank — Estonia Latvia and Lithuania — which are former Soviet Union states.
The United States is not sending troops to Ukraine. Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, stated Wednesday that the administration had stopped calling a Russian invasion imminent because it implied Washington knew Putin has made a decision. Officials maintain that Putin’s intentions are not clear.
Putin said that he found it intolerable for the U.S. to increase its troop levels in Eastern Europe, and that he also opposes Ukraine joining NATO. Already, the U.S. has several thousand troops in Poland and Romania hosts a NATO missile defense program that Russia regards as a threat. Since 2014, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the U.S. has been more present in the region.
John Kirby, Pentagon Press Secretary, stated that the soon to be deployed U.S. forces were intended to temporarily strengthen U.S. defense positions and those of allied allies.
He said that “these are not permanent moves” and stressed that the goal was to reassure allies. Kirby stated that Russia had not ceased its buildup in spite of U.S. calls for it to deescalate.
A senior Russian official stated that the U.S. movements would complicate the crisis.
In remarks made by Interfax news agency, Alexander Grushko, Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that “the unfounded destructive steps” will only fuel military tensions.
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, lowered fears of Russian invasion in a telephone interview with reporters. However, he said that Russia could make moves that could indicate an imminent invasion and that Ukraine would respond accordingly.
About 1,700 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division infantry division are among the 2,000 U.S. soldiers currently deployed from Fort Bragg (North Carolina). They will be going to Poland. The remaining 300 troops are part of the 18th Airborne Corps. They will be going to Germany as a joint task force-capable headquarters, according to the Pentagon.
Mariusz Blaszczak, Poland’s Defense Minister, tweeted that the deployment of troops to his country was “a strong sign of solidarity in response the situation in Ukraine.”
The 1,000 U.S. troops that will be going to Romania are part of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, based in Vilseck (Germany). Kirby stated that they will add to the approximately 900 troops already present in Romania.
In a separate statement, the Pentagon stated that the cavalry deployment was intended to “deter aggression” and “enhance our defensive capabilities in frontline allies states during this time of high risk.”
Kirby stated that “It is important that we send an strong signal to Mr. Putin, and to the whole world,” about the U.S. commitment to NATO.
He stated that France had decided to send troops reinforcements to Romania as part of NATO command. He also noted that several other European NATO countries are looking at adding forces to NATO’s eastern flank.
Since late last year, NATO has been increasing its defenses of Eastern European allies. For example, Denmark said it would send a frigate and F-16 warplanes from Lithuania to NATO. Spain, on the other hand, was sending four fighter planes to Bulgaria and three ships, to join NATO’s naval forces. The Netherlands will send two F-35 fighter planes to Bulgaria in April, and will keep a ship and ground-based units ready for NATO’s Response Force.
Biden stated that he would not send American troops to Ukraine to resist any Russian invasion, even though the United States is providing Ukraine with weapons and trying to assure allies in Eastern Europe of Washington’s obligation under the treaty to defend them in case they are attacked.
Ukraine is not a NATO member and the U.S. does not have a treaty obligation to assist in its defense.
These military actions come amid stagnant talks with Russia about its buildup at Ukraine’s borders. They also underscore the growing fear in Europe that Russian President Putin may be preparing to invade Ukraine. They are worried about smaller NATO countries along the alliance’s eastern border.
As an additional assurance to allies, the Pentagon has placed approximately 8,500 U.S.-based troops under higher alert in preparation for possible deployments to Europe. Officials have suggested that additional units may be placed on higher alert within the near future. The U.S. has approximately 75,000 to 80,000 troops stationed in Europe, as well as regular rotations in countries like Poland.
Washington and Moscow are at odds over Ukraine with little indication of a diplomatic solution. Kirby confirmed Wednesday the authenticity of a document cited by a Spanish newspaper. It stated that the United States might be open to an agreement with Russia in order to reduce tensions regarding missile deployments in Europe, if Moscow backs away from the brink in Ukraine.
Kirby confirmed that two documents were published by El Pais, which Kirby said were written responses from NATO and the United States last week to Russia’s proposal for a new European security arrangement. They were not commented on by the U.S. State Department.
NATO stated that it does not comment on “alleged leaks” in the second document. However, the text closely mirrors statements made last week to the media by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He laid out the position of the NATO military organization from the 30 nations on Russia’s demands.
The U.S. document was classified as confidential and “non-paper” and stated that the United States would discuss with NATO partners “a transparency mechanism for confirming the absence of Tomahawk cruise missiles from Aegis Ashore locations in Romania, Poland.”
This would be possible if Russia offers reciprocal transparency measures regarding two ground-launched missile bases that we choose in Russia.
Aegis Ashore provides protection against intermediate- and short-range missiles. Russia claims that the Romanian site could easily be modified to fire cruise missiles in place of interceptors. Washington denies this claim.
Putin made his first public comments on the standoff for more than a month Tuesday. He accused the U.S. of not listening to Russia’s central security needs, but stated that Moscow is open to continuing talks.
Russia invaded Georgia in 2008. In 2014, it annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. It also provided military support to a pro-Russian separatist group in eastern Ukraine. The conflict in eastern Ukraine has claimed the lives of approximately 14,000 people.
