NATO says Russia should avoid nuclear warfare at all costs as U.S. President Joe Biden arrives in Brussels for emergency talks.
United States President Joe Biden has just touched down in Brussels, ahead of emergency talks addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Air Force One touched down at 9:03 p.m. local time, following a seven-hour flight from Washington.
This comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Biden administration made a formal determination that Russian troops have committed war crimes in Ukraine.
Military support
According to reports from the U.K. Prime Minister’s office, the United Kingdom is set to send a further 6,000 weapons to Ukraine, including anti-tank and high-explosive weaponry.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will join emergency talks with NATO, the G7, and the European Union on Thursday.
Nuclear warning
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has labelled Moscow’s nuclear talks as “dangerous” and “irresponsible”. He also while reaffirmed the bloc’s readiness to protect and defend member nations. He warned Russia will fail to win a nuclear battle when faced with Western allies.
Although the alliance will not send troops across the border and into Ukraine, Stoltenberg says it’s extremely important to prevent this conflict from becoming a “full-fledged war”.
NATO is likely to approve the increase of military forces along its eastern flank, as leaders prepare to meet in Brussels on Thursday for crisis talks.
40-thousand troops are sitting along the eastern border of the alliance, from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Four additional combat units will likely be set up in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.
NATO’s posture will be strengthened in all domains including on land, in the air, and at sea.
Latest developments
- NATO is set to approve further military increases in forces deployed on its eastern flank.
- Ukrainian forces are managing to counter-attack their Russian counterparts, with reports they are gaining ground to the west of Kyiv.
- Russia is continuing its relentless bombardment of Mariupol, with many parts of the key port city now in ruins.
- Poland is expelling 45 Russian diplomats, accusing the officials of gathering intelligence.
New Iron Curtain
As Putin’s war on Ukraine continues, there are fresh fears for NATO’s Baltic members, with Secretary-General Stoltenberg warning a new “iron curtain” may fall.
