Biden sending 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe: report

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden is sending thousands of troops to Eastern Europe this week amid Russia-Ukraine tensions, according to a report on Wednesday.

About 2,000 troops will be moved from the state of North Carolina to Poland and Germany, and 1,000 troops based in Germany will be repositioned to Romania, US officials told Wall Street Journal.

The officials said the Pentagon might make other moves of forces inside Europe besides ordering several thousand other troops to be on standby to deploy.

The actions are intended to deter Moscow from attacking Ukraine and avert war in Eastern Europe, said the officials.

Biden said last week he would send American troops to NATO countries in Eastern Europe and the Pentagon put 8,500 troops on heightened alert to reinforce allies.

The US and Western allies accuse Russia of preparing for an invasion of Ukraine after Russia has reportedly amassed more than 120,000 troops on its border with the former Soviet republic alongside a mass deployment of tanks and artillery.

A similar buildup has been seen in Belarus, just north of Ukraine.

In both cases, Russia denies it is preparing an invasion and maintains its forces are there for regular exercises.