Britain is considering deploying significant forces within NATO as part of a plan to strengthen Europe’s borders in response to the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine’s border, the government said on Saturday.
The country said any Russian invasion of Ukraine would be met with swift sanctions and would be devastating for both sides. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to visit the region next week and will also speak to Vladimir Putin on the phone.
Johnson is considering the largest possible proposal to NATO members in the Scandinavian and Baltic regions, which will double British forces and send defensive weapons to Estonia, his office said.
“This package will send a clear message to the Kremlin – we will not tolerate their destabilizing activities and we will always be with our NATO allies against Russian hostility,” Johnson said in a statement.”I have instructed our armed forces to prepare for deployment in Europe next week to ensure that we are able to support our NATO allies,” he added. Officials will finalize details of the proposal in Brussels next week, and ministers will discuss military options on Monday.
Johnson, who has stepped up diplomatic efforts after being criticized for not doing enough, will meet for the second time with his NATO counterparts early next month, his office said. The British Foreign and Defense Ministers will visit Moscow for talks with their Russian counterparts in the coming days in order to improve relations and de-escalate tensions.