NATO sends ships and jets to Eastern Europe amid tensions with Russia.
Russia is demanding that NATO withdraw its promise that Ukraine could one day join the alliance, and that it withdraw troops and weapons from the region.
Reuters The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance said on Monday that it was putting forces on alert and reinforcing Eastern Europe with more warships and fighter jets in response to the buildup of Russian troops on the borders with Ukraine.
This move is yet another sign that the West is preparing for aggressive action from Russia against Ukraine, although Moscow denies having plans to invade its neighbor.
"I welcome the allies contributing additional forces to NATO," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in a statement. "NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to protect and defend all allies, including reinforcing the eastern part of the alliance."
The United Kingdom said it was withdrawing some staff and dependents from its embassy in Ukraine in response to the "growing threat from Russia," a day after the United States announced it was ordering family members of diplomats to leave the country.
"Russian military action could come at any moment," the U.S. embassy said in a statement. Officials "will not be in a position to evacuate U.S. citizens in this contingency, so U.S. citizens currently in Ukraine must plan accordingly," it added.
American diplomats at the embassy in Kiev are being allowed to leave voluntarily.
Tensions surrounding Ukraine have contributed to the rise in oil prices. The latest negotiations between Russia and the US on Friday failed to produce any progress in resolving the impasse.
Russia is demanding that NATO withdraw its promise that Ukraine could one day join the alliance, and that it remove troops and weapons from former communist countries in Eastern Europe that joined NATO after the Cold War.
Washington says these demands are non-negotiable, but is ready to discuss other ideas regarding arms control, missile deployment, and confidence-building measures.
The United States and the European Union warned Russia against invading Ukraine. Denmark said the EU was ready to impose economic sanctions "unprecedented," and EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels said they would send a unified warning to Moscow.
It is estimated that 100.000 Russian troops are positioned within range of the border with Ukraine. Russia is expecting a written response to its demands this week.
The United Kingdom said this weekend it had information that the Russian government was considering a former Ukrainian parliamentarian as a potential candidate to head a pro-Russian puppet leadership in Kiev.
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