NATO to send more battle groups in Hungary

We will continue to impose unprecedented costs on Russia and we will reinforce allied deterrence and defence leaders approved our four new battle groups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia,

Sky News cited Stoltenberg as saying.

Stoltenberg added that NATO will provide more ground troops, anti-tank systems, drones, naval power and jets to the areas around Ukraine.

Talking about other threats, Stoltenberg said:

We agreed to do more, including cyber security assistance and equipment to help Ukraine protect against biological, chemical, biological and nuclear threats.

"This could include detection, protection and medical supplies, as well as training for the community, contamination and crisis management. We are determined to do all we can to support Ukraine, and I welcome the concrete offers of assistance made by allies."

Stoltenberg also said there are worries that Russia is setting a pretext to blame Ukraine and its allies for preparing for a chemical attack.

There were also warnings for China, with NATO saying it must wield its influence to find a peaceful solution, rather than help and fund Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly implored for a no-fly zone over his country, but NATO allies have not even addressed this plea in their joint statement. Those opposing this idea said it would risk the escalation of the war beyond Ukraine.

"We provide Ukraine also with advanced air defence systems, with anti-tank weapons, with ammunition and fuel, and we are also providing many different types of support," Stoltenberg told reporters.

But we have also made it clear that we will not send in NATO troops on the ground or NATO planes in the air.

"To declare a no-fly zone over Ukraine means that we need to impose it and to impose it means we'll have to massively attack Russian air defence systems in Russia, in Belarus and in Ukraine. And we also [have to be] ready to shoot down Russian planes. Then the risk for a fully-fledged war between Russia and NATO would be very high, and that would cause more death and destruction," he added.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the 30 NATO allies wrote that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is "the gravest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades."

"Russia’s war against Ukraine has shattered peace in Europe and is causing enormous human suffering and destruction," they said, condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine "in the strongest possible terms."

We call on President Putin to immediately stop this war and withdraw military forces from Ukraine, and call on Belarus to end its complicity.

"Russia’s attack on Ukraine threatens global security. Its assault on international norms makes the world less safe. President Putin’s escalatory rhetoric is irresponsible and destabilizing," they added.

Praising Ukrainians' "heroic resistance to Russia’s brutal war of conquest", the allies strongly condemned Russia’s "devastating attacks on civilians, including women, children, and persons in vulnerable situations."

We will work with the rest of the international community to hold accountable those responsible for violations of humanitarian and international law, including war crimes.

"We are deeply concerned about the increased risk of sexual violence and human trafficking," they wrote in the statement, urging Russia "to allow rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access and safe passage for civilians, and to allow for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Mariupol and other besieged cities."

"We will continue to counter Russia’s lies about its attack on Ukraine and expose fabricated narratives or manufactured “false flag” operations to prepare the ground for further escalation, including against the civilian population of Ukraine.  

Any use by Russia of a chemical or biological weapon would be unacceptable and result in severe consequences.

Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN has said earlier today that Russia retains the right to use nuclear weapons if the country is “provoked” by NATO.

In an interview with Sky News, Dmitry Polyanskiy was asked if Putin was right to hold the prospect of nuclear war over the rest of the world. He replied:

If Russia is provoked by Nato, if Russia is attacked by Nato, I don’t know ... we are a nuclear power, why not?

When pressed if his remarks were a “legitimate thing to be saying” Polyanskiy responded:

I don’t think it’s the right thing to be saying. But it’s not the right thing to threaten Russia, and to try to interfere. So when you’re dealing with a nuclear power, of course, you have to calculate all the possible outcomes of your behaviour.

NATO allies reminded that they have "stepped up their support and will continue to provide further political and practical support to Ukraine as it continues to defend itself."

They said they will also continue to provide assistance in such areas as cybersecurity and protection against threats of a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear nature.  NATO Allies also provide extensive humanitarian support and are hosting millions of refugees.    

We call on all states, including the People’s Republic of China (PRC), to uphold the international order including the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, as enshrined in the UN Charter, to abstain from supporting Russia’s war effort in any way, and to refrain from any action that helps Russia circumvent sanctions.

NATO allies said in the statement they are "concerned by recent public comments" by Chinese officials and call on China to

cease amplifying the Kremlin’s false narratives, in particular on the war and on NATO, and to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

"In response to Russia’s actions, we have activated NATO’s defence plans, deployed elements of the NATO Response Force, and placed 40,000 troops on our eastern flank, along with significant air and naval assets, under direct NATO command supported by Allies’ national deployments.

We are also establishing four additional multinational battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.

On 7 March, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán signed a decree allowing NATO troops to be deployed in western Hungary and weapons to be shipped across its territory to countries in the military alliance. He insists, however, that Hungary would not allow lethal weapons to traverse its territory if they were heading to Ukraine.

In the statement, NATO allies stressed that these measures "remain preventive, proportionate, and non-escalatory." 

NATO leaders have also agreed to enhance their cyber capabilities and defences, providing support to each other in the event of cyber-attacks. 

"We will also enhance our preparedness and readiness for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats," they said, adding that further decisions will be taken when they meet in Madrid.  

"The steps we are taking to ensure the security of our Alliance and of the Euro-Atlantic area will require adequate resourcing. Allies are substantially increasing their defence expenditures."

"President Putin’s choice to attack Ukraine is a strategic mistake, with grave consequences also for Russia and the Russian people.

We remain united and resolute in our determination to oppose Russia’s aggression, aid the government and the people of Ukraine, and defend the security of all Allies.

Cover photo: U.S. President Joe Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at an extraordinary meeting of NATO Allies' Heads of State and Government in Brussels on 24 March, 2022.MTI/AP/Thibault Camus