NATO steps up actions to deal with Ukraine crisis

NATO HQ, Brussels: Moscow has continued to deny any involvement in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, but NATO is stepping up its actions - putting together an interim force to deal with what it sees as a direct threat to it's eastern borders.

In Brussels, the 28 foreign ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - announced an intermediate force to work as a deterrent for Russia while a plan for 4000 troops was set to be implemented in 2016.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, said two concrete outcomes emerged from the meeting on Wednesday (Dec 3): "One is the announcement of the establishment of an interim spearhead force which is increasing the readiness of our forces. And the other is that we agreed to maintain the continuous NATO presence in eastern part of our alliance. The readiness action plan is an important part of our response as an alliance to the threats we have seen developing both in the East and to the South.

One aspect that was not discussed however, was the government in Kiev's ambitions to one day become a member of NATO - a move that would infuriate Russia. But defence experts said it was not an important factor on the radar yet.

Marc Pierini of Carnegie Europe said: "They're not talking about Ukraine joining NATO. They're talking about the defence of Europe. You have to remember that in April last year, the last US tanks from the post-war, world war two period, were withdrawn, and this year, the first 50 came back."

Also on the agenda was NATO's withdrawal of it's mission in Afghanistan in a matter of weeks and the threat of the Islamic State.

Many of the foreign ministers including John Kerry will be remaining in Brussels - where they will be joined by a number of other foreign ministers from around the world - making up around 60 countries taking part in the US lead coalition against the Islamic State. The coalition will meet at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday (Dec 3).

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NATO steps up actions to deal with Ukraine crisis