NATO to Deploy ‘Substantially More Forces’ to Eastern Flank at ’Higher Readiness’

NATO battle groups from Estonia and the UK during military training at Central Training Area in Lasna, Estonia, on Feb. 8, 2022. (Paulius Peleckis/Getty Images)

NATO is planning to deploy “substantially more forces” to its eastern flank amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, as Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he rejected any role for NATO forces in Ukrainian territory or in its airspace.

“On land, our new posture should include substantially more forces in the eastern part of the alliance, at higher readiness, with more pre-positioned equipment and supplies,” Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels on March 16, at the end of an emergency meeting of the alliance’s defense ministers.

Weapons shipments from NATO countries to Ukraine will continue, despite the risk that transport convoys could come under Russian attack, according to Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren.

“Ukraine has the right to defend itself,” Ollongren told reporters.

Russia recently stated that military aid shipments to Ukraine would be treated as “legitimate targets” and later launched more than 30 missiles at a training facility in Yavoriv, Ukraine, near the city of Lviv, killing 35 people and wounding 134, according to Ukrainian officials.

Smoke rises amid damaged buildings and vehicles following an attack on the Yavoriv military base, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues in Yavoriv, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine, on March 13, 2022, in this picture obtained from social media. (@BackAndAlive via Reuters)

As he arrived at the emergency meeting in Brussels, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said NATO remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine.

“We support their ability to defend themselves and will continue to support them,” Austin said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked NATO to impose a no-fly zone over his country, a move repeatedly rejected by the alliance as too escalatory, since it would run the risk of triggering a NATO–Russia war.

Speaking after chairing the emergency meeting, Stoltenberg again categorically ruled out any role for the military organization in setting up and enforcing a no-fly zone.

“NATO should not deploy forces on the ground or in the air space over Ukraine because we have a responsibility to ensure that this conflict, this war, doesn’t escalate beyond Ukraine,” he said. “We see human suffering in Ukraine, but this can become even worse if NATO [takes] actions that actually turned this into a full-fledged war between NATO and Russia.”

Stoltenberg said the decision to not send air or ground forces into Ukraine is “the united position from NATO allies.”

Earlier on March 16, Estonia urged its 29 NATO partners to consider setting up a no-fly zone, while Poland called for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine under the auspices of NATO or a broader international alliance.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.