NATO is deploying a few of its combat-ready response drive to assist shield member nations close to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion, Secretary-Normal Jens Stoltenberg mentioned Friday.
"There have to be no area for miscalculation or misunderstanding. We'll do what it takes to guard and defend each ally and each inch of NATO territory," he mentioned.
Stoltenberg made the announcement throughout a information convention, the place he additionally mentioned that NATO would proceed to ship weapons to Ukraine.
This would be the first time the group has ever mobilized its NATO Protection Power (NRF) "within the context of collective protection," Stoltenberg mentioned on the information convention.
The NRF is described on the NATO web site as "a extremely prepared and technologically superior multinational drive made up of land, air, maritime and Particular Operations Forces (SOF) parts that the Alliance can deploy shortly, wherever wanted."
The NRF has been activated previously for functions apart from defending NATO, equivalent to in August of 2021 to assist the evacuation and relocation of Afghans, in addition to their households, who aided NATO.
Stoltenberg mentioned that the Kremlin's targets in launching the assault had been bigger than Ukraine.
"Russia has demanded legally binding agreements to surrender additional NATO enlargement and to take away troops and infrastructure from allies that joined after 1997," he mentioned. "We face a brand new regular in European safety the place Russia overtly contests the European safety order and makes use of drive to pursue its targets."
He added that the world will maintain Russia and Belarus, which is reportedly supporting Russia's mission in Ukraine, "accountable for his or her actions."
"President Putin's choice to pursue his aggression in opposition to Ukraine is a horrible strategic mistake for which Russia pays a extreme worth for years to return," Stoltenberg mentioned.
Stoltenberg didn't go into particular element on what weapons NATO allies are offering to Ukraine, other than saying they embody "air protection programs" and "several types of gear."
As for the NRF components being deployed, Stoltenberg didn't present actual figures however mentioned they had been speaking about hundreds of troops, in addition to "air and maritime capabilities."
The U.S. has assigned hundreds of troops to the NRF, he mentioned.
On Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden introduced the "deployment of floor and air forces stationed in Europe to the jap flank" and for "further U.S. drive capabilities to deploy to Germany as a part of NATO's response."
He clarified that U.S. troops aren't being despatched to Europe to battle inside Ukraine's borders however to assist defend NATO.
Replace 2/25/22, 2:59 p.m. ET: This story has been up to date with further info.
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