Joe Biden will deploy more US troops in Germany, Poland, and Romania, as Russia continues to build up its forces around Ukraine, and after talks between Washington and Moscow failed to bring any breakthrough or easing of tensions.
The deployment was due to be announced on Wednesday according to multiple reports citing Pentagon sources. Last week, 8,500 troops in the US, including airborne units, were put on heightened alert to be ready to deploy at short notice. US official said the troops would be part of a Nato Response Force (NRF) intended to bolster the alliance’s eastern flank, in the face of a potential Russian attack on Ukraine.
Nato have so far not taken the decision to activate the NRF, which would require the agreement of its 30 member states. Biden and the Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, have made it clear that no Nato combat troops would be going into Ukraine, although there are a small number of military advisers there.
The decision to deploy US troops follows an exchange of documents between the US, Nato and Russia setting out their respective positions on European security, and a series of phone calls between the US secretary of state, Tony Blinken, and the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
The US has suggested a number of areas for negotiation and possible confidence building measures but has insisted there can be no compromise over Ukraine’s right to join Nato. The alliance has also stated that is non-negotiable. Russia’s central demand is for guarantees that Nato will not expand further eastward.
According to a leaked copy of the US and Nato proposals, the US is ready to negotiate on limiting deployments of missiles in Europe and combat troops in Ukraine, if Russia draws back its military and makes reciprocal commitments.
Neither the US or Nato have confirmed the authenticity of the documents, which were published on Wednesday in the Spanish newspaper El Pais. Both the US and Nato had sought to keep their written proposals private in order to facilitate tense negotiations with Russia. The Ria Novosti state media outlet has reported the documents are authentic, citing a source in the Russian foreign ministry.
The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the leak, which came the day after Vladimir Putin said the United States had ignored Russia’s key concerns in its response.
While the leak may embarrass Washington, the documents show that the US position in public and private are similar: calling for de-escalation via negotiations on arms control and other largely technical issues, while warning of tough consequences in case Russia launches an invasion in Ukraine.
The US and Nato proposals also avoided any discussion of Russia’s controversial demands of a Nato withdrawal from eastern Europe and a pledge never to consider Ukraine’s membership in the security alliance.
“The United States is willing to discuss conditions-based reciprocal transparency measures and reciprocal commitments by both the United States and Russia to refrain from deploying offensive ground-launched missile systems and permanent forces with a combat mission in the territory of Ukraine,” the document read. “We will continue to consult with Ukraine on these discussions.”
The document also suggested confidence-building measures on military exercises and arms control in Europe, as well as deconfliction efforts to avoid an accidental military clash.
It also carried careful demands for the Russian side to draw down its forces near Ukraine. Russia has moved more than an estimated 125,000 troops within striking distance of the Ukrainian border, including nearly half of its available battalion tactical groups (BTGs) and support units.
“Further Russian increases to force posture or further aggression against Ukraine will force the United States and our Allies to strengthen our defensive posture,” the document also read, adding that progress could only be achieved in an “environment of deescalation” regarding Russia’s military buildup near Ukraine.
Russia is still preparing a formal response to the western proposals. But Vladimir Putin on Tuesday accused the US of ignoring Russia’s security proposals in his first public remarks on the crisis since December. In emotional remarks, he also suggested that the United States may be using Ukraine to try to goad Russia into a conflict with Nato.
Putin said he hoped that negotiations would continue but admitted he did not know what form a final agreement could take.
At the same time, Russia has continued its buildup along the Ukrainian border, including from Belarus and the annexed Crimean peninsula. A new investigation by the online Conflict Intelligence Team shows that Russian national guard units and possibly riot police have also been deploying to the border region. Those forces could be used to hold ground in case of a Russian attack, analysts have said.
Anti-war voices in Russia have also grown bolder this week. In an open letter, a group of prominent Russian activists, academics, journalists, and other public figures accusing the Russian “Party of War” in the Kremlin of seeking a conflict in Ukraine.
“We, the responsible citizens of Russia and patriots of our country, appeal to the political leadership in Russia and make an open and public challenge to the Party of War, that has formed within the authorities,” the appeal read. “We express the point of view of the part of Russian society that hates war and believes it a crime to even use the threat of war … in foreign policy rhetoric.”
“Our position is extremely simple: Russia does not need a war with Ukraine and the West,” the letter said.
More than 2,000 people have publicly signed the letter.
