On Wednesday, the US deployed tens of thousands of troops to eastern Europe to strengthen NATO forces, while French and German leaders announced travels to Moscow to allay Western fears of a Ukrainian invasion.
Due to Russia’s refusal to withdraw 100,000 troops stationed on Ukraine’s borders, 1,000 US soldiers stationed in Germany are being flown to Germany and Poland, while another 2,000 stationed in the US are being flown to Germany and Poland.
“As long as (President Vladimir Putin) is acting aggressively, we are going to make sure we reassure our NATO allies in eastern Europe that we’re there,” President Joe Biden said after the deployments were announced.
In reaction, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said the move would make it more difficult for the two countries to reach an agreement, calling the US deployments “destructive acts” that would escalate military tensions and limit the possibility for a political resolution.
Despite Moscow’s denials, Western powers have been engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts and the prospect of sanctions against Putin’s closest circle in order to dissuade what they think is an impending invasion of ex-Soviet Ukraine.
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday he would soon travel to Moscow to discuss the crisis, while France’s President Emmanuel Macron said a similar trip may be in the cards depending on upcoming talks with other world leaders.
Biden and Macron pledged to coordinate their response to the crisis in a phone call on Wednesday, while the French leader’s office said he would be talking to Putin again on Thursday evening.
