NATO willing to respond if Russia chooses war

Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, says the alliance is ready to increase its troop presence in Eastern Europe and is watching very carefully as Russia moves soldiers and weapons to Belarus.

Stoltenberg, speaking online from Brussels to Washington, said Moscow was deploying thousands of ready combat troops, aircraft and S-400 weapons systems to its neighbour, writes Aljazeer.

On NATO's side, we are willing to engage in political dialogue. But we are also willing to respond if Russia chooses a confrontation of armed conflict”, Stoltenberg said.

He added that the alliance was not planning to send combat troops to Ukraine, however.