The U.S. military has put 8,500 troops on alert ahead of a potential Russian attack on Ukraine, the Pentagon revealed Monday.
“The United States is deeply concerned about the current situation in Europe. We remain extremely vigilant about unusual Russian military actions near the Ukrainian border,” U.S. Defense spokesman John Kirby told a news conference.
The Pentagon spokesman said that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a total of “about 8,500 members of the armed forces” currently in the United States to be placed “on alert,” although he stressed that there is still no “final decision” on a possible deployment.
“We’re not deploying them at this time,” Kirby pointed out, “we’re not saying that diplomacy is dead.
NATO member countries Are sending more ships and fighter planes to Eastern Europe in response to Russia’s troop buildup on the Ukrainian border, the alliance announced Monday.
According to estimates, the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has contributed about 100,000 troops along the Ukrainian border, a move reminiscent of the situation in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea.
On Sunday, the White House ordered the removal of family members of diplomatic personnel. in Ukraine.
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