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| NATO Steps Up Readiness in Eastern Europe to Reassure Allies | NATO Steps Up Readiness in Eastern Europe to Reassure Allies |
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| KYIV — NATO said on Monday that some member countries were putting their forces on standby and sending additional ships and fighter jets to Eastern Europe to reassure allies in the region, as Britain joined the United States in ordering families of diplomats out of Ukraine, citing “the growing threat from Russia.” | KYIV — NATO said on Monday that some member countries were putting their forces on standby and sending additional ships and fighter jets to Eastern Europe to reassure allies in the region, as Britain joined the United States in ordering families of diplomats out of Ukraine, citing “the growing threat from Russia.” |
| The moves signaled rising fears of a potential Russian military intervention in Ukraine, as well as increasing concerns about the Kremlin flexing its muscles farther afield. Russian troops and equipment are pouring into neighboring Belarus for planned exercises next month that U.S. officials fear are not only directed at Ukraine, but also intended to intimidate NATO countries on Belarus’s western border, like Poland and the Baltic countries. | The moves signaled rising fears of a potential Russian military intervention in Ukraine, as well as increasing concerns about the Kremlin flexing its muscles farther afield. Russian troops and equipment are pouring into neighboring Belarus for planned exercises next month that U.S. officials fear are not only directed at Ukraine, but also intended to intimidate NATO countries on Belarus’s western border, like Poland and the Baltic countries. |
| U.S. intelligence officials have said they do not believe President Vladimir V. Putin has made a decision to attack Ukraine, and Russian diplomats have repeatedly said there are no plans to do so. | U.S. intelligence officials have said they do not believe President Vladimir V. Putin has made a decision to attack Ukraine, and Russian diplomats have repeatedly said there are no plans to do so. |
| But with a month’s negotiations between Moscow and Washington at an apparent impasse, Russia and the West increasingly seem to be talking past one another. Even as the White House prepares written responses to Russia’s demands on limiting NATO’s footprint in Europe, the Biden administration is considering deploying several thousand U.S. troops, as well as warships and aircraft, to NATO allies in the Baltics and Eastern Europe. | But with a month’s negotiations between Moscow and Washington at an apparent impasse, Russia and the West increasingly seem to be talking past one another. Even as the White House prepares written responses to Russia’s demands on limiting NATO’s footprint in Europe, the Biden administration is considering deploying several thousand U.S. troops, as well as warships and aircraft, to NATO allies in the Baltics and Eastern Europe. |
| The NATO announcement on Monday consolidated pledges and actions that member states have made over the last several days. They include an offer by France to send troops to Romania under NATO command; Denmark sending F-16 jets to Lithuania; the Netherlands sending two F-35 jets to Bulgaria to help with air policing; and Spain sending a frigate to the Black Sea. | The NATO announcement on Monday consolidated pledges and actions that member states have made over the last several days. They include an offer by France to send troops to Romania under NATO command; Denmark sending F-16 jets to Lithuania; the Netherlands sending two F-35 jets to Bulgaria to help with air policing; and Spain sending a frigate to the Black Sea. |
| The European Union also announced further financial aid to Ukraine of some 1.2 billion euros, or $1.36 billion, to help the country during this crisis. | The European Union also announced further financial aid to Ukraine of some 1.2 billion euros, or $1.36 billion, to help the country during this crisis. |
| NATO members bordering Russia and Belarus, or near the contested Black Sea in the south, have asked for more allied troops and equipment to build up deterrence against any potential aggression by Russia. That would be in addition to the 5,000 or so NATO troops already stationed in Poland and the three Baltic nations that were installed after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, in what NATO called an “enhanced forward presence.” | NATO members bordering Russia and Belarus, or near the contested Black Sea in the south, have asked for more allied troops and equipment to build up deterrence against any potential aggression by Russia. That would be in addition to the 5,000 or so NATO troops already stationed in Poland and the three Baltic nations that were installed after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, in what NATO called an “enhanced forward presence.” |
| There was no indication in NATO’s statement on Monday that any additional forces deployed in Central, Eastern or Southern Europe would be used to support Ukraine, which is not a NATO member, in the event of a Russian invasion. Western officials have made clear that NATO forces would not engage militarily against Russia, and the Biden administration has said that goes for the United States as well. | There was no indication in NATO’s statement on Monday that any additional forces deployed in Central, Eastern or Southern Europe would be used to support Ukraine, which is not a NATO member, in the event of a Russian invasion. Western officials have made clear that NATO forces would not engage militarily against Russia, and the Biden administration has said that goes for the United States as well. |
| On Monday, NATO and Russia blamed each other for inflaming tensions. | On Monday, NATO and Russia blamed each other for inflaming tensions. |
| “This all leads to tensions rising,” the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, said in reference to the moves by NATO to strengthen its eastern flank. “This is not happening because of what we, Russia, are doing. This is all happening because of what NATO and the United States are doing.” | “This all leads to tensions rising,” the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, said in reference to the moves by NATO to strengthen its eastern flank. “This is not happening because of what we, Russia, are doing. This is all happening because of what NATO and the United States are doing.” |
| Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, said in a statement that NATO would “continue to take all necessary measures to protect and defend all Allies, including by reinforcing the eastern part of the Alliance.” The statement added: “We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including through strengthening our collective defense.” | Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, said in a statement that NATO would “continue to take all necessary measures to protect and defend all Allies, including by reinforcing the eastern part of the Alliance.” The statement added: “We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including through strengthening our collective defense.” |
| The mobilization by the West comes in response to what Western countries say is a buildup of Russian forces larger than any seen since the end of the Cold War. Ukraine’s military intelligence service calculates that 127,000 troops are massed on the Ukrainian border and thousands more are expected to arrive in Belarus for next month’s exercises, along with tanks, artillery and fighter planes. | The mobilization by the West comes in response to what Western countries say is a buildup of Russian forces larger than any seen since the end of the Cold War. Ukraine’s military intelligence service calculates that 127,000 troops are massed on the Ukrainian border and thousands more are expected to arrive in Belarus for next month’s exercises, along with tanks, artillery and fighter planes. |
| But the buildup near Ukraine is only one part of what increasingly appears to be a global activation of Russian forces. | But the buildup near Ukraine is only one part of what increasingly appears to be a global activation of Russian forces. |
| Last week, the Russian defense ministry announced that more than 140 ships and 10,000 sailors would take part in a series of live-fire naval exercises in February across the world, including off the Irish coast. The goal, according to the ministry, is to “protect Russia’s national interests in the world’s oceans.” | Last week, the Russian defense ministry announced that more than 140 ships and 10,000 sailors would take part in a series of live-fire naval exercises in February across the world, including off the Irish coast. The goal, according to the ministry, is to “protect Russia’s national interests in the world’s oceans.” |
| On Monday, the Russian Navy announced the start of exercises in the Baltic Sea involving 20 warships, and the government of Ireland said it had raised concerns with Moscow about its plans to carry out naval exercises off the Irish coast next month. | |
| Even as NATO countries were stepping up their readiness, the Ukrainian government tried to project a business-as-usual image. It criticized the United States’ decision to order family members of the U.S. embassy staff to leave Ukraine, calling it “premature” and the result of “excessive caution.” | Even as NATO countries were stepping up their readiness, the Ukrainian government tried to project a business-as-usual image. It criticized the United States’ decision to order family members of the U.S. embassy staff to leave Ukraine, calling it “premature” and the result of “excessive caution.” |
| But other countries were also exercising caution in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Britain said that it, too, would withdraw family members of diplomats, and there were reports that Germany and Australia were working to draw down their embassies. | But other countries were also exercising caution in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Britain said that it, too, would withdraw family members of diplomats, and there were reports that Germany and Australia were working to draw down their embassies. |
| “A serious change in the security situation of late has not occurred,” Oleg Nikolenko, the spokesman for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, said in a statement. “The threat of a new wave of Russian aggression has been permanent since 2014, and the build up of Russian forces on the state border began in April last year.” | “A serious change in the security situation of late has not occurred,” Oleg Nikolenko, the spokesman for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, said in a statement. “The threat of a new wave of Russian aggression has been permanent since 2014, and the build up of Russian forces on the state border began in April last year.” |
| While the United States has warned that Mr. Putin could order an attack at any time, Ukraine’s government has shown less sense of urgency and at times has presented contradictory assessments of the situation. | While the United States has warned that Mr. Putin could order an attack at any time, Ukraine’s government has shown less sense of urgency and at times has presented contradictory assessments of the situation. |
| In his statement, Mr. Nikolenko, the foreign ministry spokesman, suggested that giving into panic would simply give Russia a victory as it attempts to sow discord through information warfare. | In his statement, Mr. Nikolenko, the foreign ministry spokesman, suggested that giving into panic would simply give Russia a victory as it attempts to sow discord through information warfare. |
| “The Russian Federation is currently working actively to destabilize the internal situation in Ukraine,” he said. “In this situation, it is important to soberly evaluate the risks and preserve calm.” | “The Russian Federation is currently working actively to destabilize the internal situation in Ukraine,” he said. “In this situation, it is important to soberly evaluate the risks and preserve calm.” |
| Despite the pullout of family members and some personnel, both the American and British Embassies have been ordered to remain open. | Despite the pullout of family members and some personnel, both the American and British Embassies have been ordered to remain open. |
| Meeting on Monday, European Union foreign ministers issued a statement repeating their call for Russia to respect international law, de-escalate tensions and negotiate. A further incursion into Ukraine would mean “massive consequences and severe costs,” they said. | Meeting on Monday, European Union foreign ministers issued a statement repeating their call for Russia to respect international law, de-escalate tensions and negotiate. A further incursion into Ukraine would mean “massive consequences and severe costs,” they said. |
| With Western countries threatening sanctions, worries about a possible war are already taking their toll on Russia’s economy. On Monday, Russia’s RTS stock index dropped more than 8 percent, while the ruble fell more than 2 percent against the dollar to its weakest level in more than a year. | With Western countries threatening sanctions, worries about a possible war are already taking their toll on Russia’s economy. On Monday, Russia’s RTS stock index dropped more than 8 percent, while the ruble fell more than 2 percent against the dollar to its weakest level in more than a year. |
| In an op-ed in Ukraine’s Ukrainska Pravda newspaper on Monday, a group of Ukrainian military experts said Russia was at least two to three weeks away from deploying all the forces it would need to launch a large-scale military operation but added there would likely not be sufficient forces to capture and hold significant territory. | In an op-ed in Ukraine’s Ukrainska Pravda newspaper on Monday, a group of Ukrainian military experts said Russia was at least two to three weeks away from deploying all the forces it would need to launch a large-scale military operation but added there would likely not be sufficient forces to capture and hold significant territory. |
| A more likely scenario, the experts said, would be smaller scale operations, possibly a military escalation in the breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine, an exacerbation of the conflict in the Sea of Azov or rocket attacks on critical infrastructure and military targets. | A more likely scenario, the experts said, would be smaller scale operations, possibly a military escalation in the breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine, an exacerbation of the conflict in the Sea of Azov or rocket attacks on critical infrastructure and military targets. |
| Michael Schwirtz reported from Kyiv and Steven Erlanger from Brussels. Anton Troianovski contributed reporting from Moscow. | Michael Schwirtz reported from Kyiv and Steven Erlanger from Brussels. Anton Troianovski contributed reporting from Moscow. |