NATO allies put forces on standby as tensions rise over Ukraine
“We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including through strengthening our collective defence,” he added.
Latvia’s Foreign Affairs minister Edgars Rinkēvič has called on NATO to address the “continuous” Russian and Belarusian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders, with “appropriate” countermeasures.
“It is time to increase allied forces presence in the Alliance’s Eastern flank both as measures of defense and deterrence,” the minister added.
Speaking to reporters on his way into the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, the bloc’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said no decision had been made on ordering European Union diplomatic staff and their families to leave Ukraine.
“We are not going to do the same thing, because we don’t know any specific reasons,” said Borrell.
The UK Foreign Office also announced Monday that some British Embassy staff and dependents are being withdrawn from Kyiv in response to growing threats from Russia.
Representatives from the four countries involved in the “Normandy Format” talks — France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine — will meet on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Ukraine, an Élysée spokesperson confirmed to CNN.
