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Ukrainian tanks on the way to Luhansk
Photo: Andriy Dubchak/AP
According to a report in the New York Times, US President Joe Biden is considering sending thousands of US soldiers, warships and planes to the NATO countries in Eastern Europe.
One of several variants discussed provides for up to 5,000 soldiers, as the newspaper writes, citing government circles.
The number could therefore be increased tenfold should the situation deteriorate.
A transfer of troops to Ukraine itself has not yet been considered.
The US Department of Defense declined to comment on the report.
"Even though we are engaged in diplomacy, we are very focused on expanding defense and deterrence," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday.
“NATO will be further strengthened considerably if Russia commits renewed acts of aggression.
All of that is on the table.«
Meanwhile, Great Britain has also recalled employees from its embassy in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.
In response to the growing threat from Russia, some employees and relatives would be recalled from the embassy, the Foreign Office said in London on Monday morning.
The US government had previously announced that it would reduce its embassy presence in Kiev in view of the increasing tensions.
Family members of diplomats have been asked to leave Ukraine.
Kiev criticized this as "excessive caution".
Ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers scheduled for Monday in Brussels, Denmark's Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod has meanwhile confirmed that the European Union is ready for far-reaching sanctions against Russia.
“There is no doubt that we are ready for comprehensive, unprecedented sanctions should Russia invade Ukraine again,” says Kofod.
Russia and President Vladimir Putin should know that if they want to move borders in Europe, the price will be very, very high.
With a massive Russian troop build-up near the border with Ukraine, there are fears in the West that the Kremlin may be planning an invasion of the neighboring country.
Moscow rejects this and demands security guarantees from the USA and NATO.
svs/dpa/Reuters