Biden talks with European leaders as situation at Ukraine-Russia border deteriorates

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden spoke with European leaders Monday afternoon as he mulls the option of deploying military personnel and equipment to the region amid the rapidly deteriorating security situation at Ukraine’s border with Russia.

Biden spoke via secure video for nearly 90 minutes with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy, President Andrzej Duda of Poland, Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

The leaders discussed their concern about Russia’s military build-up on Ukraine’s borders and expressed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, the White House said in a readout of the call.

“The leaders also discussed their joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including preparations to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia for such actions as well as to reinforce security on NATO’s eastern flank,” the White House said.

A senior administration official, who declined to be identified in order to share unannounced details, told NBC News that while conversations are underway with NATO countries about sending troops to Eastern Europe, Biden has not yet ordered a deployment.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin placed approximately 8,500 U.S. personnel on “heightened alert” should NATO activate a response force known as the NRF.

“The NRF is a multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and special operations forces, all components that the alliance can deploy on short notice wherever needed,” Kirby said, adding that no such activation of the NRF has occurred.

Kirby said that the NATO alliance would need to activate the NRF in order for the majority of the 8,500 U.S. troops to deploy to Europe.

“I’m not going to get into talking about their [Russian] troop movements but they continue to add battalion tactical groups to their western border with Ukraine,” Kirby said, adding that “They have not only shown no signs of de-escalating. They are in fact adding more force capability.”

The Russians have amassed more than 100,000 troops and equipment on its borders with Ukraine and in recent days, deployed additional troops to Belarus.

Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/24/biden-to-hold-call-with-european-leaders-over-ukraine-russia-border-crisis.html