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John Kerry to hold talks in Ukraine, as US mulls arms supplies Ukraine crisis: Nato to bolster Eastern Europe against Russia
(35 minutes later)
US Secretary of State John Kerry is to hold talks in Ukraine, as Washington mulls whether to start sending weapons to help Kiev fight pro-Russian rebels. Nato is set to announce details of a plan to bolster the alliance's military presence in Eastern Europe in response to continued fighting in Ukraine.
Ashton Carter, the White House's choice for defence secretary, earlier said he was "inclined" to start supplying arms. The bloc's chief says it will be the biggest reinforcement of its collective defence since the end of the Cold War.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry is to hold talks in Kiev as the US considers whether to send weapons to help Ukraine fight pro-Russian rebels.
The US has so far only provided "non-lethal" assistance to Ukraine.The US has so far only provided "non-lethal" assistance to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Nato is set to unveil what the bloc's chief says are "the biggest reinforcement" of its "collective defence since the end of the Cold War". On Wednesday Ashton Carter, the White House's choice for defence secretary, said he was "inclined" to start supplying arms.
At a meeting in Brussels, Nato defence ministers will seek to reassure the alliance's nations in Eastern Europe and to deter a potential Russian threat to the Baltic states or other bloc members should the crisis in Ukraine spin out of control, the BBC's Jonathan Marcus reports. Rapid reaction
Our correspondent says a brigade-sized spearhead force is to be established - about 4,000-5,000-strong. Its lead units will be able to move east at two days' notice. Nato defence ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday will seek to reassure the alliance's member nations in Eastern Europe by boosting its forces there.
Small command centres are also to be set up in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland Bulgaria and Romania. A rapid reaction force of up to 5,000 is expected to be announced, with its lead units able to deploy at two days' notice.
Russia denies accusations by Ukraine and the West that it is arming the rebels in eastern Ukraine and sending its regular troops across the border. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg has said the bloc faces a "fundamental change" to its security environment because of Russian aggression.
'President interested' Speaking as ministers arrived in Brussels, he said: "This is something we do as a response to the aggressive actions we have seen from Russia, violating international law and annexing Crimea," he said.
Mr Kerry will meet Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk in Ukraine's capital Kiev on Thursday morning. A news conference is expected later in the day. "I very much underline that this is something we do because we have to adapt our forces when we see that the world is changing."
The issue of weapons deliveries to Ukraine and other US assistance is expected to be one of the main items on the agenda. Nato will also reveal plans for a network of small command centres in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria.
Mr Kerry will then travel to Munich to take part in the annual security conference in the southern German city. The move is being seen as a potential deterrent against any Russian threat to the Baltic states or other bloc members should the crisis in Ukraine spin out of control.
On Wednesday, Mr Carter, who previously served as deputy secretary of defence, appeared in front of the Senate Armed Service committee to be questioned before a wider Senate vote. Russia denies accusations by Ukraine and the West that it is arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and sending regular troops across the border.
"I'm very much inclined in that direction, mister chairman, because I think we need to support the Ukrainians in defending themselves," Mr Carter said when asked by Senator John McCain if he supported delivering "defensive weapons" to Ukraine. Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent
Nato sees its actions as entirely defensive - but this is not the way they will be seen in Moscow.
Indeed their fundamentally different perceptions of the Ukraine crisis is what is driving the wider rift between Russia and the West.
Nato's wider actions - it also plans to open a training centre in Georgia and support for the reform of Ukraine's military - all ring alarm bells in Moscow.
Tensions could get worse still if the US or other Nato allies move to arm the Ukrainian military.
This is not a Nato issue as such but something for national governments, and everyone is watching the course of the evolving debate within the Obama administration.
Nato readjusts as Ukraine crisis looms
Later on Thursday, Mr Kerry will meet Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Ukraine's capital.
The issue of weapons deliveries to Ukraine - and other avenues of US assistance - is expected to be one of the main items on the agenda.
On Wednesday Mr Carter, who previously served as deputy secretary of defence, appeared in front of the Senate Armed Service committee in Washington for questioning ahead of a full Senate confirmation vote on his nomination as Secretary of Defense.
He spoke positively on the possibility of moving arms supplies to the Ukrainians.
"I'm very much inclined in that direction, mister chairman, because I think we need to support the Ukrainians in defending themselves," he said when asked by Senator John McCain if he supported delivering "defensive weapons" to Ukraine.
"The nature of those arms, I can't say right now," he added."The nature of those arms, I can't say right now," he added.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest later stressed that President Obama - not Mr Carter - would make the final decision on the issue. Ongoing fighting
But Mr Earnest added: "The president is certainly interested in the view, the opinion and the insight of his national security team, including what we hope will be his soon-to-be-confirmed new secretary of defence, and the president will certainly take that advice into account." The White House has previously expressed fears that sending in weapons could trigger a tense confrontation with Russia and escalate the conflict.
The White House has accused Russia of fighting a proxy war - but has reportedly expressed fears that sending in weapons could trigger a tense confrontation with Russia and escalate the conflict. But US President Barack Obama is now said to be reconsidering his position, accusing Russia of escalating the conflict in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
However, President Barack Obama is now said to be reconsidering his position, accusing Russia of escalating the conflict in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Fighting has intensified in recent weeks, leaving a September ceasefire in tatters.
Fighting has intensified in recent weeks - leaving a September ceasefire in tatters. Earlier this week, a group of former senior US officials and officers urged a major increase in military assistance, including providing light-armour missiles designed to take out tanks and armoured vehicles.
Earlier this week a group of former senior US officials and officers urged a major increase in military assistance, including providing light-armour missiles designed to take out tanks and armoured vehicles.
And on Tuesday, a group of US senators called on President Obama and Nato "to rapidly increase military assistance to Ukraine to defend its sovereign borders against escalating Russian aggression".And on Tuesday, a group of US senators called on President Obama and Nato "to rapidly increase military assistance to Ukraine to defend its sovereign borders against escalating Russian aggression".
Fighting in eastern Ukraine began last April, when separatists seized government buildings after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula.Fighting in eastern Ukraine began last April, when separatists seized government buildings after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula.
More than 5,000 people have been killed in the conflict.More than 5,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
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