US considering to move more troops eastward in Europe
The United States will likely be sending additional troops further east within Europe amid soaring tensions in the region, and NATO is on the way to activate its Response Force.
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US soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division at an airbase near Arlamow, Poland (Reuters)
The Biden administration is considering sending more US troops present in Europe more eastward following the latest move from Moscow to launch an operation in Donbass, CNN reports said Thursday, citing an unnamed US official.
Simultaneously, NATO authorized supreme allied commander in Europe, US General Tod Wolters, to activate the alliance's Response Force, the US report added.
Tensions between the US and NATO on the one hand and Russia on the other have been soaring due to the former parties refusing to guarantee Moscow that Ukraine would not become a member of the alliance, with the Kremlin citing security concerns regarding NATO's eastward expansion.
France to continue supporting Ukraine
France, as per the word of Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, said Thursday it was determined to continue strengthening its support for Ukraine following Russia's military operation in Donbass.
"This choice of war is a brutal violation of international law. It will bring immediate, massive consequences and a severe cost, as the Europeans have announced with their partners several times," the French diplomat said.
He went on to voice his "solidarity" with the Ukrainian authorities and the Ukrainian people. "France will further strengthen its support for Ukraine, in all forms."
The minister also condemned the use of the Belarusian territory for aggression "against a sovereign country."
He revealed that a special Crisis and Support Centre started functioning on Thursday within the foreign ministry and the French embassy in Kiev. "They will provide support to French nationals in Ukraine."
Lativa suspends issuing visas to Russians
Latvia is recalling its ambassador from Moscow, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics declared Thursday, adding that it would also suspend the issuance of visas to Russian nationals.
"I have decided to recall the Latvian ambassador to the Russian Federation for consultations and stop issuing visas to Russian citizens," Rinkevics posted on Facebook.
Tensions had been soaring between Russia and Ukraine over the Donbass region and announcing it was intending to sign a decree recognizing the independence of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).
Russia later recognized the two republics as independent, and thousands took to the street to protest the declaration.
The announcement had been preceded by intense Ukrainian shelling of the two republics, and Russia's recognition of their statehood was a move to protect the innocent civilians from the Ukrainian aggressions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier authorized a special military operation in Donbass this Thursday morning, citing neo-Nazi NATO allies moving closer to his nation's border.
In response to the Russian operation in Donbass, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have agreed to hold consultations in accordance with NATO's Article 4.
Russia has for months been warning of the threat posed against it by NATO's attempts to expand eastward, which happened simultaneously with an increase in NATO military activity along Russia's borders, and batches of lethal weapons being sent to Ukraine, prompting Russia to request security guarantees from the West. Washington failed to provide the guarantees.
