'A Message To Moscow': First Of 600 U.S. Soldiers Arrive In Eastern Europe Prompting Kremlin To Launch Its Own Military Drills Near The Border As Death Toll Rises In Ukraine
NATO soldiers will be deployed in Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
April 25, 2014
The first of 600 U.S. soldiers have arrived in eastern Europe as a Pentagon spokesman declared the mission was sending a 'message to Moscow'.
But the Nato drills prompted a backlash from Russia, which sent its troops on exercises along the Ukrainian border today and declared: 'We have to react somehow'.
The escalation of east-west tensions comes amid a slowly rising death toll in Ukraine, where the government renewed its crackdown today on pro-Russian militants leaving at least five shot dead.
Drills: 150 U.S. troops have arrived at an air force base in Swidwin, Poland, prompting a Kremlin backlash
Marching out: There will be 600 U.S. Nato troops spread between Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania
Inspection: Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak walks in front of the first U.S. troops to arrive yesterday
Around 150 soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade arrived yesterday at an air force base in Swidwin, western Poland, as the U.S. stepped up its presence in eastern Europe.
Flying to the region from their previous posting in Italy, they were met by Polish troops in similar red berets and the nation's defence minister.
Within a few days there will be 450 more American Nato troops spread between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The Americans insisted the military exercises will not be a precursor to intervention in Ukraine, which is not a Nato member, and they could last until next year.
But Rear Admiral John Kirby, a top Defense Department spokesman, said the deployments sent a strong message to Nato allies about U.S. commitments to the alliance following events in Ukraine.
'If there's a message to Moscow, it is the same exact message that we take our obligations very, very seriously on the continent of Europe,' he added.
Gathering storm: The U.S. troops (pictured) have prompted the Kremlin to mount new military drills
Warm welcome: Polish troops in green assembled in Swidwin (left) including General Adam Josk, the commander of the 6 Airborne Brigade in Krakow, pictured with the U.S. Brigade commander Michael Foster
Reinforcements: The U.S. paratroopers could be taking part in the joint exercises until next year
But Russia has insisted the build-up may violate the Founding Act, a 1997 agreement between Moscow and Nato.
Today Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reacted by ordering new military exercises in Russia's south and west, along the Ukrainian border.
The latest exercises - which add to the tens of thousands of troops already massed on the border - will involve ground and air forces.
'We have to react to these developments somehow,' he said.
Mr Shoigu quoted unspecified sources claiming Kiev has deployed more than 11,000 troops and 160 tanks against just 2,000 pro-Russian insurgents.
Today Russian President Vladimir Putin added: 'If the Kiev government is using the army against its own people this is clearly a grave crime.'
The U.S. and Nato have insisted their troops will not intervene in Ukraine despite Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and a buildup of Russian forces on the border.
But they are 'temporarily' boosting their presence in eastern Europe in a drive to reassure allies that they would have protection against any Russian aggression.
Touching down: The troops will be assembling in four Baltic states over the next few days
Working together: The Polish troops (in green) and Americans (in grey) marched in the same ceremony
Reactions: Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said the deployments, praised by Poland, Estonia and Latvia, would 'strengthen our readiness for collective defence and will add to ensuring safety of our people'
Relaxed: Polish General Adam Joks with Michael Foster, Commander of the U.S. army's 173rd Airborne Brigade
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all have their own Russian-speaking minorities and governments there are worries the crisis in Ukraine could spread.
The Latvian government welcomed the move, calling it a 'fast and practical response.'
Estonian Defence Minister Sven Mikser added it 'significantly increases the security of Estonia.'
And Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said the deployments would 'strengthen our readiness for collective defence and will add to ensuring safety of our people.'
Poland, which only emerged from Soviet-imposed communism in 1989, has also called for a strong presence of western troops.
The exercises run in month-long rounds in what the Pentagon calls a 'persistent rotational presence' that stops short of permanently basing troops in the Baltic states.
The American frigate USS Taylor has also returned to the Black Sea, just as the guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook prepares to leave in the next few days.
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