Pentagon

However, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby points out that American soldiers will not take part in the fighting on Ukrainian soil, if that happens.

The United States on Wednesday deployed several thousand troops to bolster NATO forces in eastern Europe, as the leaders of France and Germany flagged trips to Moscow to address Western fears of an invasion of Ukraine.

The United States is threatening Russia with sanctions on at least two tracks, for Britain, all options are on the table, and a key concern in NATO is Europe's energy security.

President Joe Biden has said he will soon send a small number of US troops to bolster NATO's presence in Eastern Europe as tensions rise over Russia's military build-up along Ukraine's borders.

NATO will Expand its Military Presence in Eastern Europe

US President Joe Biden sought to maintain pressure on Russian leader Vladimir Putin over Ukraine on Jan. 28, announcing a small troop deployment to eastern Europe even as top Pentagon officials backed a renewed push for diplomacy.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered Pentagon officials on Jan. 27 to undertake reforms to reduce the number of civilian deaths from military strikes after multiple unjustified fatal incidents.

Ahead of the Winter Olympics that is set to begin on February 4 in Beijing, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Wednesday (local time) suggested that the Olympics could affect Russian President Vladimir Putin's calculations over a possible invasion of Ukraine.

Bulgaria does not want American troops on its territory, but is ready to accept French, a diplomatic source from Brussels told BNR.

The decision is expected to be made in mid-February, around a meeting of NATO defense ministers.

Bulgarian PM after Security Council on Tensions in the East: We Remain a Loyal Partner of NATO

At the behest of President Joe Biden, the Pentagon has put about 8,500 U.S.-based troops on high alert, which could be sent to Europe if Russia invades Ukraine, the Associated Press and Reuters reported, quoting Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.

North Macedonia is in favor of a diplomatic solution to the dispute between Russia and Ukraine, but there is a possibility that it will get involved in a possible conflict, if NATO asks for something like that, said the Minister of Defense, Slavjanka Petrovska.
Such a move would be possible only with the consent of the President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski.