Russian troops massed on the border with Ukraine are “deploying” and “getting ready to hit” that country, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said during a visit to Lithuania on Saturday.
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“They are deploying and getting ready to strike,” the US official said, adding that the Russian military “are moving to the right positions to be able to carry out an attack”.
Mr Austin added, however, that the conflict was “not inevitable” and that President Vladimir Putin might choose “a different path”.
“The United States, together with our allies and partners, presented him with an opportunity to find a diplomatic solution. We hope he will take it,” he said.
The American official also clarified that he agreed with President Joe Biden, who said he was “convinced” that Vladimir Putin had made “the decision” to invade Ukraine.
“There are combat troops in significant numbers, these forces are now beginning to deploy and move closer to the border,” Austin said.
“Having done that myself, I can tell you that’s exactly what it takes to attack,” said the former general who took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The Defense Secretary also assured Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia that the United States stands “with (their) allies” and that Washington’s commitment to the collective defense of NATO is “unwavering.” “.
Tensions in the region have rattled the Baltic states, all three of which have borders with Russia.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, who was with Mr. Austin, considered that Russian pressure on Ukraine was “a direct military threat to Ukraine”, but also “to the entire region”.
“The battle for Ukraine is a battle for Europe. If we don’t stop him there, he (Putin) will go further,” Landsbergis said.
The Baltic states have asked NATO to send them reinforcements in addition to the troops already deployed there since the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014.
The United Kingdom and Germany have pledged military reinforcements for the region, while the United States has sent 4,700 troops to neighboring Poland, which also shares a border with Belarus and Russia.
The United States and Ukraine estimate that there are now 150,000 Russian troops deployed on Ukraine’s borders, in Russia and Belarus.