NATO deployed a rapid response force for the first time with an undisclosed location. The alliance's secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said the deployment of rapid response troops was aimed at boosting defenses after Russia invaded Ukraine.
"It's still a fluid situation. What we've seen is that Ukrainian forces fought bravely and were actually capable of inflicting damage on invading Russian forces," Stoltenberg said after a video summit of NATO country leaders.
"This is a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine. They are moving towards Kiev and their stated goal is to change the Ukrainian government," he said.
Stoltenberg warned that the Kremlin's aggression had created a "new normal", threatening the security of Europe's wider range beyond non-NATO member Ukraine.
"We have strengthened our deterrence and defence," Stoltenberg said.
“Yesterday, allies activated our defense plans and, as a result, we deployed elements of the NATO Response Force (NRF) on land, at sea and in the air to further strengthen our posture and to respond quickly to any eventuality.”
The move is the latest by NATO aimed at bolstering its defenses after an ally spearheaded by the United States sent thousands of troops to NATO members in Eastern Europe when Kremlin forces invaded Ukraine.
"We have more than 100 jets on high alert, operating in more than 30 different locations and more than 120 ships from the north to the Mediterranean," Stoltenberg said.
"This is to maintain peace to prevent attacks and to prevent the war that is taking place in Ukraine from spreading to any NATO ally country."
He gave no details on where the rapid response forces were sent, saying it was up to NATO's top military commander. Created in 2003, the NRF consists of 40,000 personnel and includes 8,000 highly prepared contingents with air, naval and special operations forces that can be deployed within days.
In Washington, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the United States currently has a large number of troops in Europe, plus the 7,000 personnel ordered to deploy to Germany this week, and others on a state of alert at home.
He said which troops and how many depended on NATO's specific needs.
"Whatever the terms... the United States stands ready to lean forward as much as possible," Kirby said. He stressed the NRF is to protect NATO countries, not to engage in fighting in Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance.
However, he said, the trigger for activating the NRF was Russia's unlawful invasion of Ukraine.
"We will do what we need to do to defend every inch of NATO territory," he added.