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NATO Mulls Deploying 'Substantially More Forces' To Eastern Flank, Says Stoltenberg

March 16, 2022

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said that the alliance is looking to deploy "substantially more forces" to its eastern flank in light of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

"On land, our new posture should include substantially more forces in the eastern part of the alliance, at higher readiness, with more pre-positioned equipment and supplies," Stoltenberg told a news conference at the end of an emergency meeting of the alliance's defense ministers on March 16 in Brussels.

But Stoltenberg said that NATO does not plan to deploy forces to Ukraine.

"We call on Russia, on President (Vladimir) Putin, to withdraw its forces, but we have no plans of deploying NATO troops on the ground in Ukraine," Stoltenberg said.

Stoltenberg's statement came after Poland called for the alliance to deploy a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine.

An extraordinary NATO summit which will also be attended in person by U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled for March 24. The summit will seek to coordinate its response to Russia's war in Ukraine, Stoltenberg has said.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/nato-eastern- flank-stoltenberg-ukraine/31756419.html

Copyright (c) 2022. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.