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Ukraine crisis: Nato to bolster Eastern Europe against Russia Ukraine crisis: Nato bolsters Eastern Europe against Russia
(about 9 hours 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 to bolster the alliance's military presence in Eastern Europe in response to increased fighting in eastern Ukraine between government forces and pro-Russia rebels.
The bloc's chief says it will be the biggest reinforcement of its collective defence since the end of the Cold War. Six bases are being set up and a 5,000-strong "spearhead" force established.
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. "Our core responsibility is to keep our nations safe, and that is exactly what we are doing," said Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg.
The US has so far only provided "non-lethal" assistance to Ukraine. The move comes amid a fresh push for peace in Ukraine.
Rapid reaction Mr Stoltenberg said the steps are being taken in response to the "changed security environment".
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. They are seen as a deterrent against any Russian threat to the Baltic states or other bloc members should the crisis in Ukraine spin out of control.
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."
"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.
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.
The six bases are being set up in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria.
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and Britain are taking the lead in establishing the new rapid reaction "spearhead" force, with its lead units able to deploy at two days' notice.
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
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. Mr Stoltenberg said it will be the biggest reinforcement of its collective defence since the end of the Cold War.
The issue of weapons deliveries is expected to be one of the main items on the agenda. Meanwhile French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have visited the Ukrainian capital Kiev to present a new peace initiative. They are due to travel to Moscow on Friday.
The White House has previously expressed fears that sending in weapons could trigger a tense confrontation with Russia and escalate the conflict. US Secretary of State John Kerry is also in Kiev, and said President Obama was still "reviewing all options", including the possibility of providing "defensive weapons" to Ukraine.
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. The US has so far only provided "non-lethal" assistance to Ukraine.
Mr Stoltenberg said it was "up to different allies to decide" whether to arm Ukraine.
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.
More than 5,000 people have been killed in the conflict since it began last April.More than 5,000 people have been killed in the conflict since it began last April.