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Ukraine crisis: Nato to bolster Eastern Europe against Russia Ukraine crisis: Nato to bolster Eastern Europe against Russia
(35 minutes later)
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.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.
The bloc's chief says it will be the biggest reinforcement of its collective defence since the end of the Cold War.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.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.
Ashton Carter, who is expected to be confirmed as the new US Defence Secretary this month, said he was "inclined" to support sending "defensive weapons".
Rapid reactionRapid reaction
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.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.
A new rapid reaction "spearhead" force of up to 5,000 is expected to be announced, with its lead units able to deploy at two days' notice.A new rapid reaction "spearhead" force of up to 5,000 is expected to be announced, with its lead units able to deploy at two days' notice.
Speaking as ministers arrived in Brussels, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said the bloc was responding to "the aggressive actions we have seen from Russia, violating international law and annexing Crimea."Speaking as ministers arrived in Brussels, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said the bloc was responding to "the aggressive actions we have seen from Russia, violating international law and annexing Crimea."
"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.""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."
Nato will also reveal plans for a network of small command centres in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria.Nato will also reveal plans for a network of small command centres in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria.
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.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.
Russia denies accusations by Ukraine and the West that it is arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and sending regular troops across the border.Russia denies accusations by Ukraine and the West that it is arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and sending regular troops across the border.
Meanwhile, officials said on Thursday that the European Union is adding 19 people, including five Russians, to its sanctions list over the Ukraine crisis.
Nine "entities" will also be targeted by the sanctions, which were reportedly agreed at an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers last week.
Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondentAnalysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent
Nato sees its actions as entirely defensive - but this is not the way they will be seen in Moscow.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.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.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.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.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 loomsNato readjusts as Ukraine crisis looms
Mr Kerry landed in Kiev on Thursday morning ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk are due to meet John Kerry in Kiev on Thursday, to discuss how the US can provide the country with assistance.
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. The issue of weapons deliveries is expected to be one of the main items on the agenda.
He is also expected to pledge an additional $16m (£10.5,m; €14m) in humanitarian aid.
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.
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 previously 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.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.
Escalating fighting
Fighting has intensified in recent weeks and the frequency of indiscriminate shelling in civilian areas has increased, according to the OSCE monitoring group.Fighting has intensified in recent weeks and the frequency of indiscriminate shelling in civilian areas has increased, according to the OSCE monitoring group.
On Thursday, both government and rebel officials said several civilians had been killed in clashes over the past 24 hours. Ukraine's military said five of its soldiers had died in the same period. More than 5,000 people have been killed in the conflict since it began last April.
The fiercest fighting has been around the strategic town of Debaltseve, where rebels are trying to surround Ukrainian troops. The town is a crucial rail hub linking the rebel-held cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, where fighting is also ongoing.
OSCE spokesman Michael Bociurkiw told the BBC that it appeared that banned cluster munitions had been used last week during an attack on the rebel-held city of Luhansk.
Ukrainian officials insist its soldiers did not fire on civilian areas and did not use cluster munitions.
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.