While the Europeans are increasing diplomatic visits to Kiev, the Americans are preparing militarily for a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Pentagon announced, this Wednesday, February 2, the dispatch of additional troops to eastern Europe: 3,000 soldiers will be moved to certain NATO member countries.
With our correspondent in Washington, Guillaume Naudin
It is a question of reassuring the Allies and sending a message to Russia: it is in a way a new way of responding to Moscow’s demands, the non-enlargement of the Atlantic Alliance and the withdrawal of NATO. countries that have joined since the end of the cold war.
The United States will therefore move 1,000 men already stationed in Germany to redeploy them in Romania, where France has also announced its intention to send soldiers. In addition, 2,000 soldiers will quickly be sent from North Carolina (Fort Bragg) to Germany on the one hand and Poland on the other.
In the latter case, it should be noted that these are not just any soldiers, since they are infantry combat units of the 82nd Airborne Division, which is in a way the American rapid reaction force, able to project in 24 to 48 hours.
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These deployments come in addition to the placing of 8,500 soldiers in the United States on alert, announced a few days ago. It’s unchanged on that side.
The Pentagon clarifies that these moves are not permanent and can be adjusted up or down. These troops will not enter Ukraine, which although under the threat of a Russian invasion, is no more a member of NATO than Finland, which for its part does not wish to do so.
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What the Pentagon explains is that Russia has a wide range of options in the event that it decides to invade Ukraine, and that if a Russian move goes further, it would be to show Moscow and to Eastern European allies that the United States is preparing and ready for any eventuality.
Boris Johnson and Vladimir Putin discuss Ukraine over the phone
The British Prime Minister and the Russian President agreed this Wednesday, February 2, according to Downing Street, on the need to find a “ peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis.
The two leaders spoke by telephone. They agreed to apply a “ spirit of dialogue ” in the face of current tensions, for ” find a peaceful resolution said a spokesperson for Mr Johnson.
Vladimir Putin for his part denounced in this discussion the refusal of NATO to take into account the concerns of his country for its security. According to a Kremlin statement, he referred to “ NATO’s lack of will “to answer it” adequately “.
Finally, note that French President Emmanuel Macron will speak to Joe Biden “ in the next few hours » and does not rule out going to Russia. ” I don’t exclude anything “, he said from Tourcoing, expecting his interview with Washington.