Russia–NATO relations

US Ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan conveyed to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs the American response to Russia's requests in the field of security, Reuters and TASS reported.

The United States on Wednesday rejected Russia's key demand to bar Ukraine from NATO and said it believed Moscow was ready to invade but offered what it called a new "diplomatic path" out of the crisis.

Ljubljana – Professor Boštjan Udovič criticised Russia and the US for not making efforts to reduce the growing tensions on the Ukrainian border as he commented on the situation for the STA on Tuesday. He labelled the conflict as muscle flexing similar to that witnessed in Georgia in 2008.

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.

The Pentagon ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert to potentially deploy to Europe as part of a NATO "response force" amid growing concern that Russia could soon make a military move on Ukraine. President Joe Biden consulted with key European leaders, underscoring U.S. solidarity with allies there.

NATO rejects Russia's demand for the withdrawal of Alliance troops from Bulgaria and Romania, BNR reports.

The Pact "will not give up our ability to defend ourselves, including through the presence of troops in the eastern parts of the Alliance."

Russia's Foreign Ministry: NATO forces Must be Withdrawn from Bulgaria and Romania

The Royal Netherlands Air Force will send two fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets in April and May in support of NATO's Black Sea Airspace Monitoring Mission, the NATO Allied Command said on its website.

Russia's Foreign Ministry: NATO forces Must be Withdrawn from Bulgaria and Romania

"We call on the Russian Federation to show respect for the conscious foreign policy choice of the Republic of Bulgaria for NATO membership and the decisions of the Bulgarian Constitutional Court," said in a statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Russia's Foreign Ministry: NATO forces Must be Withdrawn from Bulgaria and Romania

"Bulgaria is a sovereign state that decides for itself how to define and implement its domestic and foreign policy, what should be its line of conduct in international relations, respectively - in which alliances to participate." This was stated in a press release sent to the media by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) on the occasion of statements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the

NATO is already preparing a written response to Russia's demands to the pact to withdraw its troops from the border with Ukraine. Among those demands is the withdrawal of NATO troops from Bulgaria and Romania and Ukraine's refusal to join the pact.

Russia's Foreign Ministry: NATO forces Must be Withdrawn from Bulgaria and Romania