NATO said today it is putting additional forces on standby and sending more ships and fighter jets to Eastern Europe as Russia continues to build up troops near Ukraine.
The alliance said it was stepping up its "deterrent" presence in the Baltic Sea region.
Several member countries of the military alliance, which has 30 members, offered troops and equipment.
"NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to protect and defend its allies, including strengthening the eastern part of the Alliance. We will always respond to any deterioration of our security environment, including by strengthening our collective defense," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement.
Denmark sends a frigate to the Baltic Sea and F-16 fighter jets to Lithuania.
Spain is sending ships to join NATO naval forces and is considering sending fighter jets to Bulgaria. France is ready to send troops to Bulgaria, the Alliance said.
EU foreign ministers meeting today are trying to show more determination to support Ukraine, while Ireland warned that new Russian military exercises off its shores are not welcome given tensions over Russian President Vladimir Putin's possible intentions to attack Ukraine.
"All members of the European Union are united. We are showing unprecedented unity regarding the situation in Ukraine with strict coordination with the US," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters in Brussels.
Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said upon arrival in Brussels, for a meeting, that he would inform his colleagues that Russia plans to hold military exercises 240 kilometers off the southwest coast of Ireland, in international waters, but also close to the country's exclusive economic zone.
"We do not have the power to prevent it, but we certainly made it clear to the Russian ambassador in Ireland that it is not welcome. This is not the time to increase military activity and tensions in the context of what is happening with and in Ukraine," said the Irish minister.
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