The transfer of American reinforcements to Poland, sent to reassure allies worried about Russian-Ukrainian tensions, "has begun", a Polish army spokesman told Saturday.
"The first soldiers have arrived at Jesionka airport" (southeast), said Major Przemyslaw Lipczynski, adding that the main forces of an American contingent of 1,700 soldiers should arrive "soon".
3,000 more American soldiers in Europe
Major Lipczynski said that logistical preparations “have started since last week”.
On Saturday, a plane with soldiers from the US 82nd Airborne Division landed in Jesionka.
The United States announced last Wednesday the dispatch of 3,000 additional American soldiers to Eastern Europe to defend the NATO countries "against any aggression", in the midst of a diplomatic ballet aimed at convincing Moscow to withdraw its massed troops. at the borders of Ukraine.
Read alsoUkraine: could France be embroiled in a war?
The new American troops are in addition to the 8,500 soldiers placed on alert at the end of January by American President Joe Biden to be deployed in NATO's rapid reaction force if necessary.
Westerners have accused Moscow since the end of 2021 of having massed tens of thousands of soldiers on Ukraine's borders for a potential invasion, which Russia denies, claiming only to guarantee its security.
