NATO on Thursday said it would take steps to boost deterrence and defense after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military operation in Ukraine.
The military alliance is putting over 100 warplanes on high alert and increasing its presence in its eastern flank, according to Reuters. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said there would be a virtual emergency summit of the alliance’s 30 nations, adding that the leaders of Sweden, Finland and European Union institutions would also attend.
“Russia has attacked Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said, according to The Associated Press. “This is a brutal act of war. Our thoughts are with the brave people of Ukraine.”
“Peace on our continent has been shattered,” Stoltenberg added. “Russia is using force to try to rewrite history, and deny Ukraine its free and independent path.”
Stoltenberg also noted that there were no NATO troops in Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance.
“We have no plans to send NATO troops in Ukraine,” he added. “What we do is defensive.”
Russia attacked Ukraine Thursday morning, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes and shelling. Putin claimed the invasion is meant to protect eastern Ukraine from what he called a “regime.”
“This is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion,” Stoltenberg said, however. “Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked attack on Ukraine is putting countless innocent lives at risk with air and missile attacks.”
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NATO to boost troop deployments in Eastern Europe after Russia attack on Ukraine https://t.co/2ewb6noqd8 pic.twitter.com/XfqTEu50Ds
— The Hill (@thehill) February 24, 2022
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