US deploys 10,500 additional soldiers in East Europe while Ukraine conflict

Washington/Moscow: While the Ukraine conflict is raging, US defence headquarters Pentagon announced an additional deployment of 10,500 soldiers in east Europe. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that this deployment is not for Ukraine but the security of the NATO members. It is reported that while reports are being received regarding this deployment, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin held telephonic talks with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

The United States had nearly 80,000 soldiers already deployed in the European countries even before the Ukraine conflict started. But reports of the United States increasing its military deployment in the East European countries have been received since the Ukraine conflict started. This deployment is done as the possibility of an intense Russian reaction increased significantly, especially after the aggressive approach adopted by the United States and NATO to increase pressure on Russia. At the same time, the United States is taking a precaution that the additional deployment does not transform the reigning tensions into a fierce conflict.

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin held discussions with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu over the telephone. It is claimed that the two Defence Ministers had not held such talks since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict. Therefore, the discussions become significant against this background. It is said that it was concurred in the meeting that the communication between the United States and Russia would continue despite the Ukraine conflict. But the details have not been revealed. Both the countries have refrained from giving any further information.

Military analysts are claiming that the Ukraine conflict is at a decisive turn. The United States feels that prolonging the conflict will reduce the Russian might. Thus, the United States and its western allies are assisting Ukraine in every possible way to deplete Russian strength. But strategic analysts claim that Russia has already considered this possibility and is ready for a long-drawn conflict. Some strategic analysts warned the United States and NATO members that if the time demands, the Russian President will use tactics unthinkable for Western countries. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has warned that Russia will not hesitate to use nuclear forces if NATO expands up to the Russian border. Earlier as well, Russian leaders warned NATO that the Ukraine conflict could culminate in a nuclear war. At the same time, Russia had criticised that the political leadership of the NATO member countries lacks the maturity to understand the gravity of the nuclear war. But the European countries seem to be viewing the Russian warning sensitively.