Response Force Deployment Does Not Mean NATO Troops In Ukraine

Speaking in Poland, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that today marks a historic day, as "We are for the first time in our history deploying the NATO Response Force. Today French troops are arriving in Romania as the lead elements of this force."

• It should be noted that the deployment of the Response Force is ONLY TO NATO MEMBERS IN EASTERN EUROPE. NO NATO TROOPS ARE BEING DEPLOYED TO UKRAINIAN TERRITORY.
• Stoltenberg's comments come days after the official announcement of the deployment of the response force came as part of NATO leaders' statement (see MNI bullet on the NATO statement from Friday 25 February: https://marketnews.com/leaders-statement-confirms-...).
• Stoltenberg confirms that the response force and indeed NATO remains a defensive alliance, and that the troops are there to defend the territory of NATO member states.
• NATO members clearly do not want to get involved in military engagements with Russian forces. Earlier today, UK ministers pushed back on the idea of a no-fly zone over Ukraine, raising concerns about direct engagement with Russian aircraft, which would risk a major escalation.