US sends more troops to Poland as Russia increases arms capabilities
WASHINGTON (TND) — More American troops and equipment landed in Poland Tuesday as the U.S. ramps up its military presence in Eastern Europe.
They join a few dozen others who arrived Sunday, all part of the 1,700 American troops deployed there to support NATO allies amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Poland borders Ukraine and a portion of Russia known as Kaliningrad. Now, the country's Minister of the Interior, Mariusz Kamiski, says that Poland is preparing to welcome up to 1 million Ukrainian refugees should Russia invade.
Russia has more than 100,000 troops on its western border with Ukraine and another 30,000 Russian troops are in Belarus to Ukraine's north. According to the Department of Defense, Putin is also adding "robust" arms capabilities.
"That means not just infantry or tracked vehicles, but artillery and long-range fires, and air and missile defense, as well as special operations," Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said. "He has a full suite available to him, and it continues to grow every day, including just over the last two days."
Kirby adds that American troops will likely be conducting exercises with military partners in Romania and Poland in the coming days.
Russia insists it has no intention of invading but U.S. intelligence estimates show Russia has assembled 70% of the military personnel and weapons needed for a full-scale invasion. NATO allies are increasingly concerned.
The president of Poland met in Berlin Tuesday with the leaders of France and Germany hoping to prevent war in Europe, saying they will not back down on rejecting Russia's request to block Ukraine from joining NATO but are willing to work with Russia on other concerns.
