Ukraine, Russia Tensions: US troops on high alert for possible Russian attack

Ukrine and Russia Tension

The Pentagon says rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine have put about 8,000 US troops on high alert for an emergency deployment.

Russia has rejected plans for a military operation against Ukraine, but about 100,000 Russian troops are stationed on the border with Ukraine.

On Monday, US President Joe Biden made a video call with European allies. Western powers are working to develop a unified strategy in the face of possible Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The Pentagon says it has not yet decided whether US troops will be deployed.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the "deployment" would only happen if NATO decided to activate an immediate response force against the presence of Russian troops or "if any other emergency arises". He clarified that there are currently no plans for US troops to be deployed in Ukraine.

Some NATO countries, such as Denmark, Spain, France and the Netherlands, are planning to send warplanes and warships to Eastern Europe for defense or are in the process of doing so.

About 90 tonnes of US military aid arrived in Ukraine on Saturday, including weapons for troops fighting on the front lines.

In addition to Biden, the video call included British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President McKeown, German Chancellor Olaf Schultz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Polish President Anze Doda and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. European leaders Arsala van Darren Lane and Charles Mitchell also took part.

"It's been a very, very good meeting for me," Biden said. I fully agree with the European leaders. "

A spokesman for Downing Street in London said the leaders had agreed on the importance of global unity in the face of growing Russian aggression.

He said that in the event of a Russian intervention, all leaders agreed on a "quick response from the Allies" which would include tough sanctions against Russia.

Borns Johnson has said that according to intelligence reports, Russia is planning air strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kiev. "Intelligence is clear that 60 Russian groups are on the border with Ukraine," he said. "Everyone can see the plan for air strikes on Kiev."

"We need to make it clear to the Kremlin and Russia that this could be a catastrophic move."

The Kremlin says it views NATO as a security threat. It has called on NATO not to move further into the alliance, which includes its neighbor Ukraine. However, the United States has said that the issue at hand is Russian aggression, not NATO expansion.