Die Welt: NATO Rapid Reaction Forces Put on High Alert Due to Russian Troops Deployed Near Ukrainian Border

NATO has increased the combat readiness of its 40,000-strong rapid reaction force due to the deployment of Russian troops near Ukraine's borders, the German newspaper Die Welt reported, citing a senior NATO diplomat.

According to the source, the Joint High Readiness Task Force should be ready to deploy to a crisis region within five days instead of the previous seven. The special forces and logistics unit have also been put on high alert.

NATO has increased its combat readiness both because of the situation on the border between Russia and Ukraine and to strengthen the defense of Poland, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

A NATO spokesman did not confirm this information in a conversation with Die Welt. "NATO allies have made it clear that Russia must be transparent, Russia must reduce tensions, and we have also made it clear that any further aggression will have costs and consequences. NATO's policy towards Russia remains consistent: defense and dialogue," the NATO spokesman said.

• Since early November, Western media, politicians and intelligence agencies have been reporting that Russia is increasing its troop concentration on the border with Ukraine. According to sources in American and European media, Russia may begin an invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Russia insists that the movement of troops across its territory is an exclusively internal matter.