- George Bodwin
- BBC News
photo source, Andrew Parsons/No 10
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on the 29th that he was considering doubling the number of troops deployed in Eastern Europe.
With tensions escalating in Ukraine, Britain is considering sending large-scale troops.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement on the 29th that he was considering doubling the number of troops deployed in Eastern Europe.
“I will send a clear message to the Russian government,” he said.
Johnson is also expected to hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future to urge a diplomatic solution.
“The UK will not tolerate Russia’s destabilizing activity and will always be with NATO allies,” the prime minister, scheduled to visit Eastern Europe this week, said.
“It will be a tragedy for Europe if Russian President Putin chooses the path of bloodshed and destruction,” he said.
“I have ordered our troops to be ready for deployment across Europe next week,” Johnson said.
Russian military deployment area (indicated by red circle)
Meanwhile, Russia has deployed an army of about 100,000 men, tanks, artillery and missiles near the border with Ukraine, but has denied any plans to invade Russia and its borders with the EU.
The UK has 900 troops in Estonia and more than 100 in Ukraine for military training purposes. About 150 cavalry are also deployed in Poland.
The British Foreign Ministry is set to announce tougher sanctions against Russia’s strategic and financial interests in Parliament on the 31st.
Britain is also expected to reveal specific plans for dispatching troops when NATO member ministers meet in Brussels on the same day to discuss military countermeasures.
In addition to increasing troops, Johnson said he could send defensive weapons to Estonia.
To protect NATO allies, the UK is also considering sending high-speed jets, battleships and military experts as well.
They are also planning a second meeting with the leaders of NATO member states early next month.
The British foreign and defense minister is also preparing to meet with officials from Russian authorities in Moscow to urge tensions to be eased.
The incident arose in response to Russia’s protest against Ukraine’s accession to NATO. Russia sees this as a direct threat to security.
NATO member states are 30 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia (the former Soviet republic bordering Russia).
Members are expected to cooperate in the event of an armed attack.
Last month, Russia asked NATO to ban Ukraine from joining NATO, suspend military activities in Eastern Europe, and ban the deployment of missiles in countries adjacent to or bordering Russia.
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