Ukraine Crisis: NATO to More Than Double Its 'Rapid Reaction Forces'

NATO's Secretary General stated that the organization aims to more than double its 'rapid reaction forces' to counter what it calls Russian threats in Ukraine and extremist Islamism. According to the Associated Press, Jens Stoltenberg remarked on Thursday, February 5, that during the NATO defense ministers' meeting taking place that day in Brussels, it is expected that the number of special forces will increase from 13,000 to 30,000 soldiers. He noted that NATO defense ministers should also discuss and approve the details of establishing a super-rapid strike group consisting of 5,000 troops. Stoltenberg emphasized, 'Our decisions make it clear that NATO is determined to defend all its allies against any threat from any area.' The Associated Press reported that when asked if NATO's actions could exacerbate a 'Cold War-like' situation with the Kremlin, he responded that NATO's actions are purely defensive and a reaction to Russia's behavior. Last week, Stoltenberg also announced that NATO would deploy units of its forces to six Eastern European countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania, to address the Ukraine crisis. Eastern Ukraine has seen heavy fighting between Russian-backed separatists and government forces in recent months, while the U.S. and the European Union accuse Moscow of sending troops and military aid to the separatists in Eastern Ukraine, a claim that Russia denies. Meanwhile, the German newspaper Die Welt conducted an interview with Petro Poroshenko, in which the Ukrainian president called for military assistance from NATO member countries. According to Reuters, Poroshenko stated in the interview, 'Given the escalation of conflicts we are witnessing these days, the increase in civilian casualties, especially after the terrorist attacks in Volnovakha and Donetsk and the bombing of Mariupol... NATO must provide more assistance to Ukraine.' He indicated that the assistance NATO should provide to Ukraine includes 'the transfer of modern weapons for the protection [of civilians] and resistance against aggressors.' Recently, the New York Times reported, citing U.S. government officials, that Washington is assessing how to assist Ukraine and send defensive military equipment to the country. Reports indicate that today (Thursday), John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, is in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, discussing the possibility of military assistance to the Ukrainian army with officials there. In this context, the United Nations reported that the number of casualties in the Ukraine war has reached five thousand. The ongoing heavy fighting in Ukraine coincides with unproductive negotiations. The German Chancellor has called for the formation of a 'united European front' over Ukraine. The leader of the Ukrainian separatists stated: 'We will increase our forces to 100,000.'